1 Corinthians 1:14 - Meaning and Application

Here the apostle explains his work among the Corinthians. He thanks God that he baptized only a few of them, Crispus, who had once been the ruler of a synagogue in Corinth (Acts 18:8), Gaius, and the household of Stephanas. Beyond these, he does not remember baptizing anyone else.

How could this be a reason for thankfulness? Baptizing all nations was part of Christ’s command. Paul is not saying he was glad he had not baptized at all, as if he had neglected his duty. He means that, in those present circumstances, he was glad he had not done much baptizing, because people might have wrongly thought he baptized in his own name, made disciples for himself, or formed a party around himself.

So he left the baptizing to other ministers and gave himself to the more useful work of preaching the gospel. He saw preaching as the more important task of the two. He had helpers who could baptize, but no one could do the preaching work as well as he could. In that sense he says, Christ did not send him mainly to baptize, but to preach the gospel. Ministers should think of themselves as especially sent to the work in which Christ is most honored and souls are most helped, and for which they are best fitted, though they must not leave any part of their duty undone.

Paul’s main work among them was to preach the gospel (1 Corinthians 1:17), the message of the cross (1 Corinthians 1:18), Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 1:23). Ministers are soldiers of Christ, and they must lift up and display the banner of the cross. Paul did not preach his own ideas, but the gospel, the good news of peace and reconciliation with God through the mediation of a crucified Redeemer, that is, through Christ acting as the one who brings God and sinners together. This is the heart of the gospel. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our joy. Through his death we live. This is what Paul preached, what all ministers should preach, and what all believers live on.