08.19.2014 New Testament: 1Co 1.14–16
To read the Bible in a year, read First Corinthians 1 on August 19, In the year of our Lord 2014
By Don Ruhl
While modern preachers tally up the number of people they have baptized, Paul thanked God that he baptized few people,
I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other (1 Corinthians 1.14–16).
The brethren in Corinth boasted that they were followers of their favorite preachers, perhaps the men who had baptized them, but that led to division, since not everyone is baptized by the same person.
Paul knew that as an apostle of Christ, he wielded great influence, but he did not want anyone to carry his name. Therefore, he thanked God that he did not baptize very many people in Corinth, because he did not want to be accused of having baptized people in his name. He wanted people to follow Jesus Christ.
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I have heard people use these verses to justify a salvation that does not include baptism. Sadly, most people miss what Paul was really grieved about – one of the very acts that was meant to create unity (1 Corinthians 12:13; Acts 2:41) was actually being used to create division. It’s not about the name of the person who baptized us, but the name of the one we’re baptized into.
It’s an interesting section of scripture that doesn’t always get treated so honestly or plainly.
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Thanks, Eugene, and I especially liked this comment of yours, “It’s not about the name of the person who baptized us, but the name of the one we’re baptized into.”
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