Was Paul sent by Christ to baptize, and if not what was he sent to do?
No. Paul declares Christ sent him not to baptize, unlike John the Baptist whose ministry was baptism of repentance. Instead, Paul was sent to preach the Gospel—that Christ died, was buried, and rose again—not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Les teaches from 1 Corinthians 1:17 that this statement shocks many people: “For Christ sent me not to baptize.” He contrasts Paul with John the Baptist, who was sent to baptize and preached the baptism of repentance. Paul’s mission, however, was to preach the Gospel—that Christ died, was buried, and rose again—not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ be made of no effect. Les also notes that the preaching of the cross is foolishness to those who perish, the lost, yet it has everything to do with us because God has His controversy with man there.
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.
More Questions
What does Paul mean when he says Christ sent him not to baptize but to preach the gospel?
In 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul says he was sent not to baptize but to preach the gospel, meaning that no church practice, not even baptism, and no human eloquence may detract from the gospel because the gospel is the finished work of the cross.