Why God Kept Paul from Baptizing: 1 Corinthians 1:13–17, Part 2

>> This is our second session on 1 >> This is our second session on 1 Corinthians Corinthians Corinthians 1:13-17. Remember that he has just said in the Remember that he has just said in the preceding section that Chloe's people preceding section that Chloe's people preceding section that Chloe's people had reported to him that there is strife had reported to him that there is strife had reported to him that there is strife among the among the among the church in Corinth and specifically what church in Corinth and specifically what church in Corinth and specifically what he means is some groups were saying, "I he means is some groups were saying, "I he means is some groups were saying, "I am of Paul. I am of Apollos. I am of am of Paul. I am of Apollos. I am of am of Paul. I am of Apollos. I am of Cephas. Cephas. Cephas. I am of Christ." And now I am of Christ." And now I am of Christ." And now here's his response. "Is Christ here's his response. "Is Christ here's his response. "Is Christ divided?" divided?" divided?" Answered, "No." Answered, "No." Answered, "No." "Was Paul crucified for you?" "No, "Was Paul crucified for you?" "No, "Was Paul crucified for you?" "No, Christ was." [snorts] Christ was." [snorts] Christ was." [snorts] "Were you baptized in the name of Paul?" "Were you baptized in the name of Paul?" "Were you baptized in the name of Paul?" "No, you were baptized in the name of "No, you were baptized in the name of "No, you were baptized in the name of Christ." We talked about Christ." We talked about Christ." We talked about those and how they relate to those and how they relate to those and how they relate to the the the divisions in the church. divisions in the church. divisions in the church. And now he continues and what he picks And now he continues and what he picks And now he continues and what he picks up on is particularly up on is particularly up on is particularly this issue of being baptized by Paul or this issue of being baptized by Paul or this issue of being baptized by Paul or in the name of Paul and the and the in the name of Paul and the and the in the name of Paul and the and the entire entire entire remainder of the paragraph wrestles with remainder of the paragraph wrestles with remainder of the paragraph wrestles with that issue.

that issue. that issue. "I thank God that I baptized none of you "I thank God that I baptized none of you "I thank God that I baptized none of you except except except Crispus and Gaius Crispus and Gaius Crispus and Gaius so that no one may say that you were so that no one may say that you were so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. I did baptize also baptized in my name. I did baptize also baptized in my name. I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. the household of Stephanas. the household of Stephanas. And beyond that And beyond that And beyond that I don't know whether I baptized anyone I don't know whether I baptized anyone I don't know whether I baptized anyone else. else. else. For Christ did not send me to baptize For Christ did not send me to baptize For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel and not with but to preach the gospel and not with but to preach the gospel and not with words of eloquent wisdom lest the cross words of eloquent wisdom lest the cross words of eloquent wisdom lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. Now, of Christ be emptied of its power. Now, of Christ be emptied of its power. Now, we're going to we're going to we're going to deal with deal with deal with this this this next time. next time. next time. All I want to do now All I want to do now All I want to do now is to focus on is to focus on is to focus on this response right here to the issue of this response right here to the issue of this response right here to the issue of Paul being the one who baptized being the one who baptized a few a few a few and the response being, "Ah, and the response being, "Ah, and the response being, "Ah, Paul's the one who baptized me. I was Paul's the one who baptized me. I was Paul's the one who baptized me. I was baptized baptized baptized and then they say, it seems and then they say, it seems and then they say, it seems in his name.

in his name. in his name. Like, "Whoa." Like, "Whoa." Like, "Whoa." Father, I pray that as we try to Father, I pray that as we try to Father, I pray that as we try to understand what Paul is saying here understand what Paul is saying here understand what Paul is saying here about about about his practice of baptism and their his practice of baptism and their his practice of baptism and their response to being baptized by this response to being baptized by this response to being baptized by this well-known apostle that you would teach well-known apostle that you would teach well-known apostle that you would teach us us us what we need to know, Father, about your what we need to know, Father, about your what we need to know, Father, about your providential protection of us from providential protection of us from providential protection of us from making ministerial blunders making ministerial blunders making ministerial blunders and how we should not think about and how we should not think about and how we should not think about baptism baptism baptism but think about Christ being exalted. but think about Christ being exalted. but think about Christ being exalted. Show us these things, I pray now, in Show us these things, I pray now, in Show us these things, I pray now, in Jesus' name. Amen. I thank God that I baptized We'll come I thank God that I baptized We'll come back to this. back to this. back to this. that I baptized none of you that I baptized none of you that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius. except Crispus and Gaius. except Crispus and Gaius. And then as he reflects, immediately he And then as he reflects, immediately he And then as he reflects, immediately he says, "Well, says, "Well, says, "Well, actually, I think actually, I think actually, I think yes, I remember yes, I remember yes, I remember I baptized the household of Stephanas.

And then as he reflected, he thinks, And then as he reflected, he thinks, "No, I better not I better not say it "No, I better not I better not say it "No, I better not I better not say it was only Crispus, Gaius, and Stephanas' was only Crispus, Gaius, and Stephanas' was only Crispus, Gaius, and Stephanas' household. I better say cuz household. I better say cuz household. I better say cuz I I don't know for sure whether I I I don't know for sure whether I I I don't know for sure whether I baptized anyone else. Now, what's what's baptized anyone else. Now, what's what's baptized anyone else. Now, what's what's the point the point the point of of of those three statements? those three statements? those three statements? I didn't baptize anybody except Crispus I didn't baptize anybody except Crispus I didn't baptize anybody except Crispus and Gaius. Oh, yes, I did baptize the and Gaius. Oh, yes, I did baptize the and Gaius. Oh, yes, I did baptize the household of Stephanas. household of Stephanas. household of Stephanas. Actually, I don't remember. Actually, I don't remember. Actually, I don't remember. I didn't keep track I didn't keep track I didn't keep track of whether I baptized anyone else. What of whether I baptized anyone else. What of whether I baptized anyone else. What what's the point? what's the point? what's the point? The point is The point is The point is I I I baptized very very few. few. few. That's That's one obvious That's That's one obvious That's That's one obvious statement that he's making. Very few. statement that he's making. Very few. statement that he's making. Very few. Second point he's making is to be to be the baptizer was was not not not a priority a priority a priority for me.

for me. for me. Now, that should say something to them. Now, that should say something to them. Now, that should say something to them. They They're making it a priority. They They're making it a priority. They They're making it a priority. Like, wow, I'm of Paul, I'm of Cephas, Like, wow, I'm of Paul, I'm of Cephas, Like, wow, I'm of Paul, I'm of Cephas, I'm of Apollos. I was baptized by the I'm of Apollos. I was baptized by the I'm of Apollos. I was baptized by the by the by the by the one who founded our church. I was one who founded our church. I was one who founded our church. I was baptized by the one who knew Jesus. I baptized by the one who knew Jesus. I baptized by the one who knew Jesus. I was baptized by the one who was the most was baptized by the one who was the most was baptized by the one who was the most rhetorically gifted orator. rhetorically gifted orator. rhetorically gifted orator. And And he's saying, And And he's saying, And And he's saying, I didn't I didn't I didn't put a priority at all on whether I stood put a priority at all on whether I stood put a priority at all on whether I stood in the water and put you under or not. in the water and put you under or not. in the water and put you under or not. So, that's the first thing is the So, that's the first thing is the So, that's the first thing is the priority of being the one who baptizes priority of being the one who baptizes priority of being the one who baptizes was not was not was not a high priority for Paul. a high priority for Paul. a high priority for Paul. And it was very few. So, they should And it was very few. So, they should And it was very few. So, they should tone down their excitement about Paul tone down their excitement about Paul tone down their excitement about Paul being the one being the one being the one who baptized. who baptized. who baptized. Second observation. Second observation. Second observation. He says, He says, He says, the reason the reason the reason that he's so glad that he didn't baptize that he's so glad that he didn't baptize that he's so glad that he didn't baptize very many and that it wasn't a priority very many and that it wasn't a priority very many and that it wasn't a priority is so that no one would say that you is so that no one would say that you is so that no one would say that you were baptized in my name.

were baptized in my name. were baptized in my name. Now, this is shocking. Now, this is shocking. Now, this is shocking. Maybe it only means Maybe it only means Maybe it only means in my name in the sense that now you get in my name in the sense that now you get in my name in the sense that now you get to boast in to boast in to boast in the fact that Paul was the one who the fact that Paul was the one who the fact that Paul was the one who baptized you, but baptized you, but baptized you, but in my name comes very close to saying like in Christ. like in Christ. We're supposed to baptize people in the We're supposed to baptize people in the We're supposed to baptize people in the name of Christ, not in the name of Paul. name of Christ, not in the name of Paul. name of Christ, not in the name of Paul. So, it could be that Paul saw the seeds So, it could be that Paul saw the seeds So, it could be that Paul saw the seeds of these fact in in the in these of these fact in in the in these of these fact in in the in these factions, he saw the seeds of something factions, he saw the seeds of something factions, he saw the seeds of something deeply deeply deeply uh wrong about the spiritual nature of uh wrong about the spiritual nature of uh wrong about the spiritual nature of the way they saw the event of baptism. the way they saw the event of baptism. the way they saw the event of baptism. Like baptism somehow Like baptism somehow Like baptism somehow mingled Christ and Paul or Cephas and mingled Christ and Paul or Cephas and mingled Christ and Paul or Cephas and and Christ or Apollos and Christ in the and Christ or Apollos and Christ in the and Christ or Apollos and Christ in the very baptism, so that the baptism was very baptism, so that the baptism was very baptism, so that the baptism was somehow messed up with Paul and Christ somehow messed up with Paul and Christ somehow messed up with Paul and Christ being the thing into which you're being the thing into which you're being the thing into which you're baptized. I don't know. We don't know baptized. I don't know. We don't know baptized. I don't know. We don't know the nature of the corruption or the the nature of the corruption or the the nature of the corruption or the error, but this is a this is a shocking error, but this is a this is a shocking error, but this is a this is a shocking statement here.

statement here. statement here. I don't want anybody to say they were I don't want anybody to say they were I don't want anybody to say they were baptized into my name. Now, baptized into my name. Now, baptized into my name. Now, here's a third observation. here's a third observation. here's a third observation. Does that mean that Paul would say I just don't want you to be baptized I just don't want you to be baptized into my name. You can be baptized into into my name. You can be baptized into into my name. You can be baptized into Cephas's name. You can be baptized into Cephas's name. You can be baptized into Cephas's name. You can be baptized into Apollos's name, just not my name. And of Apollos's name, just not my name. And of Apollos's name, just not my name. And of course, we know that's not what he's course, we know that's not what he's course, we know that's not what he's saying. saying. saying. The reason Paul in in this entire The reason Paul in in this entire The reason Paul in in this entire response here is dealing with himself, response here is dealing with himself, response here is dealing with himself, Paul instead of Apollos and Cephas, Paul instead of Apollos and Cephas, Paul instead of Apollos and Cephas, is because he wants to use himself is because he wants to use himself is because he wants to use himself as an example of the way a true apostle as an example of the way a true apostle as an example of the way a true apostle or a true teacher, true evangelist or a true teacher, true evangelist or a true teacher, true evangelist thinks about baptism, thinks about being thinks about baptism, thinks about being thinks about baptism, thinks about being a leader. a leader. a leader. And the way he thinks is spelled out in And the way he thinks is spelled out in And the way he thinks is spelled out in chapter 3. When one says, When one says, "I am of Paul."

"I am of Paul." "I am of Paul." And another, "I am of Apollos." Are you And another, "I am of Apollos." Are you And another, "I am of Apollos." Are you not being merely human? You're thinking not being merely human? You're thinking not being merely human? You're thinking the way mere humans think. What then is the way mere humans think. What then is the way mere humans think. What then is Apollos? Apollos? Apollos? What is Paul? What is Paul? What is Paul? You can see now, he's saying, "Look, You can see now, he's saying, "Look, You can see now, he's saying, "Look, maybe I baptized you, maybe Apollos maybe I baptized you, maybe Apollos maybe I baptized you, maybe Apollos baptized you, but what's that? baptized you, but what's that? baptized you, but what's that? Who cares? Who cares? Who cares? We're just slaves, we're just servants We're just slaves, we're just servants We're just slaves, we're just servants through whom you believed." And you through whom you believed." And you through whom you believed." And you could say, "Through whom you were could say, "Through whom you were could say, "Through whom you were baptized." baptized." baptized." It was through It was through It was through through. You passed through our hands. through. You passed through our hands. through. You passed through our hands. You didn't wind up in our hands. We're You didn't wind up in our hands. We're You didn't wind up in our hands. We're not the main thing. not the main thing. not the main thing. And it was the Lord who did the And it was the Lord who did the And it was the Lord who did the assigning, who baptizes whom, or who assigning, who baptizes whom, or who assigning, who baptizes whom, or who leads whom to Christ. I planted, Apollos leads whom to Christ. I planted, Apollos leads whom to Christ. I planted, Apollos watered, watered, watered, but God but God but God gave the growth. gave the growth. gave the growth. So, So, So, stop focusing on these teachers. Stop stop focusing on these teachers. Stop stop focusing on these teachers. Stop focusing on us. Stop focusing on who did focusing on us. Stop focusing on who did focusing on us. Stop focusing on who did the actual baptizing.

the actual baptizing. the actual baptizing. So, neither he who plants nor he who So, neither he who plants nor he who So, neither he who plants nor he who waters nor he who baptizes waters nor he who baptizes waters nor he who baptizes is anything is anything is anything by comparison, but only God who gives by comparison, but only God who gives by comparison, but only God who gives the growth. That's the point the growth. That's the point the growth. That's the point of this minimizing of this minimizing of this minimizing of who does of who does of who does the baptizing. the baptizing. the baptizing. God is the one who should be focused on. God is the one who should be focused on. God is the one who should be focused on. Christ is the one into whom you were Christ is the one into whom you were Christ is the one into whom you were baptized. Stop exalting us or even baptized. Stop exalting us or even baptized. Stop exalting us or even mingling us with Christ mingling us with Christ mingling us with Christ as though you were united with us in the as though you were united with us in the as though you were united with us in the same way you were united with Christ in same way you were united with Christ in same way you were united with Christ in baptism. And the last thing I would baptism. And the last thing I would baptism. And the last thing I would point out is point out is point out is back to I thank God. Is it not back to I thank God. Is it not back to I thank God. Is it not remarkable? remarkable? remarkable? I mean, I would paraphrase this as I mean, I would paraphrase this as I mean, I would paraphrase this as I I I attribute to God attribute to God attribute to God with thankfulness the providence that he with thankfulness the providence that he with thankfulness the providence that he didn't let me baptize many people. I attribute to God with thankfulness I attribute to God with thankfulness that when I was struggling with the that when I was struggling with the that when I was struggling with the question of should I baptize more people question of should I baptize more people question of should I baptize more people or should I hand that off or should I hand that off or should I hand that off to some of the new elders or to to some of the new elders or to to some of the new elders or to Apollos and Cephas.

Apollos and Cephas. Apollos and Cephas. And there was no And there was no And there was no rule in the Bible rule in the Bible rule in the Bible to help Paul decide, should I be the to help Paul decide, should I be the to help Paul decide, should I be the baptizer? baptizer? baptizer? And he chose not to be. And he chose not to be. And he chose not to be. And as he looks back, he says, thank God And as he looks back, he says, thank God And as he looks back, he says, thank God I wasn't. I wasn't. I wasn't. And what I'll just end on this. Isn't it And what I'll just end on this. Isn't it And what I'll just end on this. Isn't it encouraging that when we have encouraging that when we have encouraging that when we have ministerial choices to make, There is no ministerial choices to make, There is no ministerial choices to make, There is no clear biblical guidance like should I be clear biblical guidance like should I be clear biblical guidance like should I be the one who does the baptizing or the one who does the baptizing or the one who does the baptizing or somebody else? When we don't have clear somebody else? When we don't have clear somebody else? When we don't have clear guidance, we do our best. We pray for guidance, we do our best. We pray for guidance, we do our best. We pray for wisdom. We make our choices wisdom. We make our choices wisdom. We make our choices and we discover a year or two or a and we discover a year or two or a and we discover a year or two or a decade later decade later decade later God was in that. God was in that. God was in that. That's very encouraging.