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NASB | 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me [as an apostle] to baptize, but [commissioned and empowered me] to preach the good news [of salvation]--not with clever and eloquent speech [as an orator], so that the cross of Christ would not be made ineffective [deprived of its saving power]. |
Bible Question:
Greetings Forum! I have noticed a proliferation of questions concerning baptismal regeneration lately. I have a question which no one from the baptismal regeneration camp has answered as of yet. Rather than posting my question to a particular person's post, I thought I would ask it as an open question so that anyone can reply. My question is simply this: If baptism is essential to salvation why: a) Did Paul say, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." - 1 Cor. 1:17. And, b) Didn't Jesus baptize anyone - "although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples." - (Joh 4:2) It seems to me that if baptism were essential to one's salvation that Paul would not have been able to say that Christ did not send Him to baptize. Further, it does not seem likely that Jesus would never baptize if baptism were essential to salation. Just curious! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
Bible Answer: Hello Tim, The bible teaches in 1 Cor 1:12-16 that Paul did not want the people to claim being baptized in any other name other than Jesus. Paul was a witness to Jesus Christ and was sent as he said along with the other Apostles to preach the Gospel. By preaching the Gospel to a non believer will raise questions on how to be saved. The Gospel is the death, the burial and the resurrection of Christ. Upon believing many ask what must they do to be saved as in Act 2:37,Acts 16:30. Take for example Paul himself. When he waited for Ananias, He believed who Jesus was before he was baptized.(Acts 9:6) He went to Damascus as Jesus instructed yet still blind. When Ananias reached him and laid his hands on him his eyes were cleared and he arose and was baptized. Jesus said in Matt 28:19-20 to go and make disciples of ALL THE NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE COMMANDED YOU. This as you know closes out Matthew. Keep this in mind for as you close out Luke in verse 46-47 Jesus says that "repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name TO ALL NATIONS,(theres that phrase again)beginning at Jerusalem. Question, the Day of Pentacost, first Gospel sermon after the resurrection, wasn't it in Jerusalem? And what did peter say Acts 2:38 REPENT and be BAPTIZED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST for the REMISSION OF SINS. Looks to me like what Jesus told His Apostles was done just as He commanded. Just because Jesus didn't baptize doesn't negate that inspired word of its necessity for salvation. The Gospel brings about the question "what must I do to be saved" and the answer "repent and be baptized". Raven |