1 Corinthians 1:16 - Printer Friendly

ESV: (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)

NIV: (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't remember if I baptized anyone else.)

NASB: But I did baptize the household of Stephanas also; beyond that, I do not know if I baptized anyone else.

CSB: I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don't recall if I baptized anyone else.

NLT: (Oh yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas, but I don’t remember baptizing anyone else.)

KJV: And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

NKJV: Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.

Paul is making an aside from his main point that no Christian is legitimately baptized in the name of some teacher, preacher, or apostle. They are baptized in the name of Jesus, and all their loyalty and focus should be on Him. Instead, the believers in Corinth had divided into factions based on their loyalty to well-known Christian teachers.

Paul wrote in verse 14 that the only ones among them he had baptized were Crispus and Gaius. Now he recalls that he also baptized the household of Stephanas and allows that he may have baptized more people he is not remembering while he was with them in Corinth.

His point, though, remains that it does not matter whom he did or did not baptize because nobody was baptized in his name. All Christians are baptized in the name of Jesus. Further, this continues to emphasize that baptism is not part of our salvation. Paul's concern is the gospel, not a good work such as being baptized.

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.

Accessed 5/7/2024 5:00:05 PM