Lesson 705

(Lesson 705)(07-25-13) This lesson concerns the six applications of the term "baptized" as they appear on 1 Corinthians 13-17. In order to properly establish the context in which the term was applied and the intended medium into which these Corinthians were "baptized" (immersed), we must quote verses 3-18, "Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now 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. For 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. Now 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. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For 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. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

Paul wrote this letter because some of the Corinthians had misunderstood how "baptism" should be applied to the gospel of Christ and were subsequently preaching the wrong message. This contention is borne out by what Paul said in verses 10-11, "Now 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. For 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."

Paul, in essence, reprimanded the Corinthians for distorting the gospel of Jesus Christ by inserting the physical actions (baptisms) of men into the plan of salvation. The Corinthians had obviously attempted to connect their salvation to the person who had "baptized" them and had failed to give Jesus ALL the credit and praise.

Verse 13 says, "Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?" The term "baptized", as it is used here, defines salvation. The context will allow no other definition. Paul, if he had spoken modern English, would have said, Did I die for you? Did I save your eternal souls?

In verse 14-15 Paul says, "I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name."

These two usages of the term "baptized" describe the doctrine that had been mistakenly taught by Appolos and others. In modern English Paul would have said, I thank God that I didn't mislead you like this. You might have wrongfully thought I had something to do with your salvation!

Verse 16 says, "And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other." In this usage water IS the intended medium to which Paul was referring. The confusion comes when the scholars who transliterated term "baptizO" into the term "baptism" applied the term to describe both the water immersions that John the Baptist administered as well as, and inclusive of, the message John taught. That crossover definition carries throughout the New Testament and is the main cause for the confusion concerning "baptism", and salvation.

In verse 17 Paul says, "For 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."
This usage definitely describes a water "baptism", (immersion). It also demonstrates the insignificance Paul placed on water immersion, as it pertained to the gospel of Christ.
If water immersion played any part in the salvation of ones soul, the Apostle Paul would have NEVER made the statement, "I thank God I baptized none of you", nor would he have said "For Christ sent me not to baptize".~