Paul
the apostle continued to handle the “division”
among the
church members in Corinth, and because he did not want anyone saying
that he “baptized in”
his “own name”,
he shared
how he did not “baptize”
any of them except “Crispus and
Gaius”. In
chapter one and verse sixteen of First Corinthians, Paul continued
his letter by adding
that he “baptized” “the
household of Stephanas”
where we read:
And I
baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether
I baptized any other.
The
verse begins, “And
I baptized also the household of Stephanas:”
Paul began
with the words, “and I baptized”
which means “moreover Paul immersed and submerged to wash, bathe
and make clean” “also”
which means “even and indeed” “the
household”
or “the inhabited house and dwelling place” “of
Stephanas”
whose name means “crowned” and was “a Christian convert of
Corinth”. Paul remembered that he “baptized”
those who inhabited “Stephanas”
house.
The
verse continues, “besides,
I know not whether I baptized any other.”.
Paul added
the word, “besides” or
“moreover, hereafter, for the future, at last and henceforth”, “I
know not”
which means “Paul did not perceive, notice, discern, have
recollection or discover” “whether
I baptized”
or “if Paul immersed and submerged to wash, bathe and make clean”
“any other”
which means “whosoever”. Paul could not recollect whether he
“baptized” any
other people within the church at Corinth than those he mentioned.
When
we meditate upon these words from Paul, we notice how he continued to
devalue himself and exalt Jesus Christ. Because the church in Corinth
was “divided”, and some of them were calling themselves
“of Paul”, he made sure they knew he was not into
“baptizing” for “baptism's” sake. He was
careful to resist “baptizing” people because others might
report that he did so in his “own name”. Jesus is the one
to whom “glory” and “worship” for salvation belongs,
and those who are wise will not only resist receiving “credit”
for that which God has done, but also give “glory” to God
and His Son Jesus alone.
Next
time Paul shares how the church members were divided between, “Paul,
Apollos, Cephas and Christ”,
so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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