Bible Strands
1 Corinthians 1:17
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Paul addresses the Corinthian believers to clarify his apostolic commission during a period of factionalism over human leaders.
The words — ἀπέστειλόν (apesteilen) means sent, and εὐαγγελίζεσθαι (euangelizesthai) means to preach the gospel, establishing the explicit contrast between his divine assignment and human ritual.
The thread — Paul reiterates this rejection of rhetorical wisdom in 1 Corinthians 2:1 and 1 Corinthians 2:13.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to evaluate ministry by the content of the crucified Christ rather than by human eloquence, preserving the gospel’s authority from being reduced to persuasion.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Cross-references
- 1 Corinthians 2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
- 1 Corinthians 2:13 And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
- 2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4 My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
- 2 Corinthians 10:10 For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”
- John 4:2 (although it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples),
- 2 Corinthians 4:2 Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- Acts 26:17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
- 2 Corinthians 10:3 For though we live in the flesh, we do not wage war according to the flesh.
- 2 Corinthians 11:6 Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.