1 Corinthians 1:14-17 - To preach the gospel

1:14-16

Paul reminds them that he hardly baptised any of them, except Crispus and Gaius. The Roman names shows the long term Roman heritage of Corinth, though it was by a now a very Hellenized city. Also note that it wasn’t important to Paul who actually carried out the baptising. What is important is the name that we baptised into, and that is the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Note how things that at the time would have seemed insignificant, such as Paul not actually carrying out much of the baptising, later on proved to be important. God orders all things.

1:17

This is another example of applying a little common sense when interpreting the Bible. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus does tell us to go into all the world baptising people in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. What Paul is saying here is that the act of baptising, and, in particular, who carries it out, is not the crucial matter. They were forgetting the other parts of the Great Commission. Namely, becoming disciples of Christ Jesus, and obeying His commands. There is also the emphasis on all power and authority being given to Christ, and the fact that He is with us always.The focus is on Jesus and on following (which includes obeying) Him. We so easily put our focus on to other things, which is what the Corinthians were doing.

Preaching with eloquence and skill was something that was very much valued by the Greeks. Now this verse is not a sanction for rubbish preaching and making a complete hash of things. It is the emphasis that counts. Are we relying on the power of the cross or on something else? Why should what we preach have any effect on anyone? It is because we preach the gospel, the word of God. The cross that leads people to repentance, by the work of the Holy Spirit.  In Paul’s day the Greeks put emphasis on eloquence, in our day the biggest risk is relying on gimmicks of various sorts. Now there is actually nothing wrong with using what might be called gimmicks if they are helpful in getting the message over, but the focus must always be on the message, and the message must be focused on the cross.