Christ Sent Me Not to Baptize

by Terry Wane Benton

In I Corinthians 1:17 Paul said, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.” The assumption that denominational people make is that Christ did not send Paul to baptize because baptism is not essential to salvation, but is that really the point here?

Paul had already made the point that to be of Christ two things were essential:

1. Christ would have to be crucified for you, and
2. you would have to be baptized in His name (I Corinthians 1:12-15).

That is implied because Paul said they were saying “I am of Paul” and he refutes that by asking “Was Paul crucified for you?” If the answer is no, then stop saying you are “of Paul”. Were you baptized in the name of Paul? If the answer is no, then stop saying you are of Paul. The implication is that those two things would have to be true of them if they would say that they are of Paul. But the further implication is that these two things would have to be true if a person can legitimately say “I am of Christ.” Was Christ crucified for you? Yes! Were you baptized in His name? Yes! Then you can claim to be “of Christ.” Otherwise, if one or both of those things were not true you could not claim to be “of Christ.”

Now in I Corinthians 1:17, is Paul saying, “Christ did not send me to baptize because baptism is not essential?” Or is the key here in what is his primary mission? Is it essential to preach the gospel? Yes! Is it essential that Paul himself do the baptizing? No! Is it essential that someone do the baptizing? Yes! The gospel calls for “He that believes and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:16). Was it essential that Peter do the baptizing of the 3000 on Pentecost? No! Was it essential that they all get baptized? Yes! Was it essential that someone assist in baptizing them? Yes! Was Peter sent to do the baptizing? No! Was he sent to preach the gospel? Yes! Someone else can help get the baptizing done.

So, is Paul saying he was not sent to baptize because baptism is not essential? No! He is saying that God did not instruct him to go baptize, obligating him to do the baptizing but to preach the gospel, and the gospel would urge the baptism, and others can assist in helping to get them baptized into Christ so that they can then be “of Christ”. All the Corinthians were baptized (Acts 18:8; I Corinthians 12:13), but Paul assisted in baptizing only a few. Why? Because that was not what he was sent to do. Preach the gospel and the gospel brings souls to Christ to be baptized into Christ (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-6).

In the case of many of the childish Corinthians, Paul was glad he didn’t do the baptizing of many “lest they say he baptized in his own name.” Knowing how they began dividing toward their favorite preachers, he was glad he pointed them to Christ and did not become their argument for saying “I am of Paul.” So, Paul is not teaching that baptism is not essential. He is saying it is not essential that Paul does the baptizing.

Baptism is essential (I Peter 3:21; Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16), only after the gospel has been taught and brings one to conviction and seeking conversion to Christ. At that time any number of people can help “baptize you into Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27; Romans 6:3-6; Colossians 2:12; I Corinthians 12:13; I Peter 3:21). No one is ready to be baptized into Christ until the gospel has brought about that proper conviction. Paul was sent to preach that gospel, let the gospel bring people to baptism, and any number of people could help assist in the baptizing. That is what this text is teaching! Do not allow deceivers to twist this passage to conflict with the text and other clear verses.