What was John the Baptist commissioned to do compared to Paul's commission?
John the Baptist was commissioned to Israel to baptize with the baptism of repentance; that was his mission. By contrast, Paul declares Christ sent him not to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, because only the Holy Spirit opens the heart.
Les explains that in 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul admonishes the Corinthians to forget their divisions over who they were following. The central theme for all believers, whether rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, black or white, is that all are subject to God's grace, which brings them to the gospel, not to a baptism. Paul writes, “Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.” Les points back to John the Baptist, who was commissioned to Israel to baptize with the baptism of repentance—that was his mission. Paul refutes that now and says God did not send him to baptize, but instead to preach the gospel. Paul also says this was not with the wisdom of words, because human talk cannot get anybody; only the Holy Spirit opens the heart, as when the Lord opened Lydia's heart in Philippi so she attended to the things spoken by Paul. He did not come with the wisdom of human mentality or intellectual degrees.
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.
What did Paul say Christ sent him to do instead of baptizing?
Paul declares that Christ sent him not to baptize but to preach the gospel, lest the cross of Christ be made of no effect. Paul put no importance on water baptism because of the dangers of division among believers and prioritized gospel preaching first, since the gospel opens the door and transforms lives.
What was John the Baptist commissioned to do for Israel?
John the Baptist was commissioned to Israel to baptize, specifically with a baptism of repentance. That was his mission. This contrast highlights that John's role was baptism, not Paul's gospel preaching, for Paul said Christ sent him not to baptize but to preach the gospel.
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.