Paul was thankful he baptized few because his ministry was preaching the gospel, not performing water baptisms, and he wanted to prevent divisions over human leaders.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 1:17 make clear that Christ sent him to preach the gospel, not to baptize. The Corinthians were already dividing over personalities—some claiming Paul, others Apollos, others Peter—and baptism had become a point of pride. By baptizing only a few, Paul removed any basis for people to claim they were baptized in his name, keeping the focus on the cross of Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:17 — Paul explicitly states his commission was to preach the gospel, not to baptize, which is the core of his attitude toward baptism.
1 Corinthians 1:14-15 — Paul personally thanks God that he baptized only a few, explaining that this prevents anyone from claiming to be baptized in his name.
In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul confronts divisions among the believers, who were saying, 'I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ' (1 Corinthians 1:12). He then asks, 'Is Christ divided?' (1 Corinthians 1:13) and reminds them that he was not crucified for them, nor were they baptized in his name. The apostle writes, 'I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius' (1 Corinthians 1:14), yet his main focus is stated in verse 17: '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.' The biblical point is that water baptism was not Paul's central mission; the gospel of the cross was.
Les Feldick teaches that Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 1:17 draw a clear line between the biblical gospel and religious ceremony. He points out that John the Baptist was commissioned to baptize Israel, but Paul—who now carries the gospel of the grace of God—was sent to preach, not to baptize. Les emphasizes that the Corinthian believers were splitting into personality-based groups, and any emphasis on who baptized whom would only worsen these divisions. For Les, Paul's thanksgiving that he baptized only a few is rooted in the principle that nothing—especially an ordinance like baptism—should take focus away from the cross of Christ.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:17, 'For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.' Les Feldick highlights that this stands in contrast to John the Baptist, who was commissioned to baptize with the baptism of repentance. Paul's gospel centered on the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. Les stresses that Paul would allow nothing—including any rite of the church—to take attention away from the finished work of the cross. This is why Paul kept baptism in the background.
Les Feldick explains that the Corinthian believers were dividing over which teacher they followed—some aligned with Paul, others with Peter or Apollos. They were attaching spiritual pride to the one who brought them into the faith and, by extension, to the one who baptized them. Paul did not want to be the object of anyone's loyalty, nor did he want people claiming to be baptized in his name. Divisions based on personality, rather than doctrine, were dangerous and had to be corrected.
Why Carnal Believers Are Still Blameless — 1 Corinthians 1:8-9
All right, verse 2 again, and I went up by revelation and communicated. Remember in the last program I dealt on that word? It means absolute clarity. All right, I communicated unto them that gospel which I preach. Where? Among the Gentiles. Now why does He make by Holy Spirit inspiration that kind of a stipulation? Because His gospel that He preached amongst the Gentiles was something totally diff…
Paul's Mission Was Not Baptism but the Gospel
Les explains that Paul admonished the Corinthians about their divisions and then quoted his own words that Christ sent him to preach the gospel, not to baptize, unlike John the Baptist.
Baptism Must Not Detract from the Cross
Les stresses that Paul would not let even baptism detract from the finished work of the cross, which is why baptism was not his focus.
The Gospel Is Christ's Death, Burial, and Resurrection
Les contrasts Paul's mission with John's baptism of repentance, showing that Paul preached the gospel of the cross—Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
Corinth's Divisions Over Human Leaders
Les identifies that the Corinthians were dividing into groups around Paul, Peter, and even Jesus' words, showing why baptism could become a basis for faction.
Why Paul's Letters Are the Most Neglected in the Bible
It was past Paul's understanding. Why should He, as He called Himself, the least of all, be made the greatest? Well, Paul will be the first to tell us the grace of God. The grace of God, see that? All right, verse 16. To reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the heathen, or the Gentiles.
Will God Restore the Kingdom to Israel? Acts 1:6 Explained
Well they were engulfed. They were inundated in the leadership of Moses and in the power and the protection of that cloud. And so always realize that baptism in Scripture does not always refer to water baptism. Well then as we pointed out in the last few moments of our last program then, there is a complete change of operation by the time we get to Paul's letters.
Personality-Based Divisions in Corinth
Les explains that Apollos' charisma attracted a following, causing believers to align with him rather than Paul, illustrating the danger of personality-driven loyalty.
1 Corinthians 1:12: Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
This verse shows the divisions in the Corinthian church that Paul was addressing, which included loyalty to different teachers.
1 Corinthians 1:13: Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Paul uses these questions to emphasize that Christ is the sole object of faith and that no human baptizer should claim that role.
1 Corinthians 1:14: I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
This is the direct statement where Paul expresses thankfulness for baptizing few people.
1 Corinthians 1:15: Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
Paul explains the reason for his thankfulness: to prevent anyone from claiming baptism in his name.
1 Corinthians 1:17: 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.
This is the key verse explaining Paul's priority: preaching the gospel, not performing baptisms, so that the cross remains central.
No. Paul was not sent to baptize as his primary mission, but he did baptize a few people, such as Crispus and Gaius. His concern was that baptism should never detract from the gospel or become the basis for division.
The Corinthians were attaching their identity to the human teacher who baptized them—whether Paul, Apollos, or Peter—instead of focusing on Christ. This created factions and undermined the unity of the body.
According to Les Feldick, Paul preached the gospel that Christ died, was buried, and rose again. This finished work of the cross is the center of the message, and nothing, including baptism, should overshadow it.
Watch the Teaching: Why Carnal Believers Are Still Blameless — 1 Corinthians 1:8-9