Paul’s Perspective on Baptism: Exploring Unity in Christ from 1 Corinthians 1:17
Dr_Bob_Huwite
1 Corinthians 1:10-17 (KJV)
¹⁰Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
¹¹For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
¹²Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
¹³Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
¹⁴I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
¹⁵Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
¹⁶And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
¹⁷For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
---The Full Context
One of the major concerns of Paul for the Corinthian church, as found in 1 Corinthians 1:10-17, was that of division. There the believers were identifying themselves with various leaders, namely Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Christ, using baptism as a basis to boast of some special allegiance. Paul rhetorically asks in verse 13, "Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?
This brings to the forefront the absurdity of their divisions and emphasize the fact that baptism speaks to belonging to Christ, not to some human leader.
The general state of affairs in the Corinthian church was one of considerable, even multifaceted, disorder: spiritual immaturity, pride, and misunderstanding of respective roles. Paul wrote overall to the Corinthians in view of uniting this church, correcting errors of the church, establishing legitimate authority, and focusing these believers on Christ.
The Teaching of Paul about Baptism
Paul's personal experience with baptism is instructive. His conversion, as related in Acts 9, involved a direct encounter with Jesus, a period of blindness, and an order to be baptized to wash away his sins, Acts 22:16. The immediacy of the response shows that baptism is part of conversion and provides an example for others. The same teaching about baptism appears in Paul's letters. Romans 6:3-7 speaks to baptism being associated with identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection; that is the way believers are free from sin. Galatians 3:26-27 refers to the sons of God through faith because they have put on Christ in baptism. Colossians 2:11-13 describes the spiritual circumcision in baptism, where one is buried and raised with Christ, made alive, and forgiven of sins.
Ephesians 4:4-6 reminds of the unity of the faith, including one baptism as a cardinal element.
Paul's Practice Regarding Baptism
He did baptize some people, which included Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas, showing that he was not opposed to baptism. Generally, he would preach the whole gospel, and when the people got baptized, he would see that the converts were baptized, even though someone else could do the baptizing.
Recorded conversions under the ministry of Paul, like that of Lydia, the Philippian jailer, and many Corinthians, show a consistent pattern of hearing the message, believing, and being baptized immediately. This underscores the need and urgency of baptism in the conversion process.
Understanding Paul's Statement
The statement of Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:17, "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel," has to be taken within context. He is not denying the necessity of baptism but discussing an issue of division and pride among the Corinthians. The main focus of Paul was to preach the gospel, while others could perform the baptisms. This division of labor made the ministry effective and sustained unity within the church.
The fact that Paul underscores the idea that he mainly preached and did not focus much on baptizing touches right at the pride and prestige regarding who is performing the baptism. Paul places the limelight on Christ and the oneness of the church. He shifts the emphasis away from the leader and more towards the message at the center of the gospel.
Issues Rebuttals
Some say that baptism is not a part of the gospel, and others claim that Paul downgraded the importance of baptism. But the Great Commission-baptism included-was practiced and taught as necessary by the apostles, including Paul. Therefore, the context of 1 Corinthians 1:17 provides clear evidence that Paul in no way minimized baptism but, on the contrary, used the importance of baptism to fight division.
Others say that preaching takes precedence over baptism. As indispensable as the preaching of the gospel is, baptism too is essential in the process of conversion. Whatever the case, these roles are both vital and run together in the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Practical Application
To the church today, Paul's teachings represent a reinforcement of the need for unity and a Christ rather than man or relationship-centered approach. Person's baptism continues to be an integral part of salvation, constituent element of the gospel, a command of Christ, and an apostolic practice uniformly observed. Understanding of Paul's statement in its full context helps maintain proper relation between the proclamation of the gospel and baptism.
Paul's word in 1 Corinthians 1:17 has to be, nevertheless, put in context, full teaching, and for right understanding in addressing the party spirit, reproof upon misusing a baptizer's name, and declaration of Christ crucified as opposed to human leader. It is a part of a conversion, gets its meaning from the gospel message itself, and needs to be done without hindrance to the penitent believers. This passage is not devaluing baptism but rather appeals to its importance in order to counter division, while keeping it in its rightful relation to gospel proclamation. Baptism is associated with conversion and incorporation into Christ, consummating the initial conversion and displaying the central human response to the gospel.