1 Corinthians 1:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.

NIV: so no one can say that you were baptized in my name.

NASB: so that no one would say you were baptized in my name!

CSB: so that no one can say you were baptized in my name.

NLT: for now no one can say they were baptized in my name.

KJV: Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

NKJV: lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.

Paul expressed in the previous verse that he was glad he did not baptize very many of the Christians in Corinth. He is deeply troubled that they have divided themselves into angry factions based on which well-known Christian teacher they are loyal to. Paul wants no part of that. If he had baptized more of them, his concern is that they might somehow think that his doing so would cause more of them to focus on him instead of on Christ.

He asked sarcastically in verse 13 if they were baptized in his name. Now he says emphatically that, since he baptized so few of them, nobody can wrongly say that they were baptized in his name.

Baptism is an important practice for Christians. When He was leaving earth after the resurrection, Jesus commanded His disciples to, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). The idea that anyone would be baptized in the name of Paul was ridiculous heresy. That was Paul's point.

Parallel to that, this passage demonstrates that Paul did not consider baptism and salvation to be one and the same. Despite his deep desire to see others saved (Romans 10:1), Paul will explicitly say his mission was not to baptize (1 Corinthians 1:17), but to preach the gospel. While baptism's importance is clear, what's also clear is that the act of baptism does not impart salvation.

First Corinthians 1:10–17 is about Christian unity. After giving thanks to God for the Corinthians and their sure place with Him in eternity, Paul addresses the way they have divided themselves into factions based on which Christian teacher they follow. Paul urges them to stop and be unified in and around Christ. After all, Christ is not divided. They were not baptized in the name of Paul, though he baptized a few of them. Christ did not send Paul to baptize, but to preach the gospel. Paul will not risk emptying the cross of its power by preaching with eloquent words.

Paul's letter to the Christians in Corinth begins with thanks for the great and powerful gifts God has given to them by His grace and through their faith in Christ. They will stand blameless before God in the end. Right now, though, they must stop dividing themselves according to which Christian teacher they follow and become unified in and around Christ. The gospel message of Christ's death on the cross is weak and foolish to the world, but God has given faith in Christ to those who believe it and find God's power and wisdom.

First Corinthians 1 begins Paul's letter to the Christians in Corinth, a big, bustling city on a major trade route. Paul knows them well, having spent a year and a half leading people to Christ and establishing the church there. He writes from Ephesus to correct some of their wrong attitudes and behaviors and to answer some of their questions. First, though, he thanks God for His grace to the Corinthians, knowing they will stand blameless before Him on the day of the Lord. Still, they must stop being divided and unite in and around Christ.

First Corinthians is one of the more practical books of the New Testament. Paul writes to a church immersed in a city associated with trade, but also with corruption and immorality. These believers are struggling to properly apply spiritual gifts and to resist the ungodly practices of the surrounding culture. Paul's letter gives instructions for real-life concerns such as marriage and spirituality. He also deals with the importance of unity and gives one of the Bible's more well-known descriptions of love in chapter 13.