Paul once emphasized the importance of rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).  Failing to do this usually results in someone believing and teaching that a passage says something it does not say, leading one down the path of doctrinal error.  Sadly, this happens a lot in the religious world.  This week I want to examine some passages that have been misconstrued because they are not rightly divided.

Let us begin with the important subject of baptism.  Those who deny the essentiality of baptism believe that Paul gives evidence that baptism is not necessary for salvation in his first epistle to the saints at Corinth.  Here is the passage they think proves baptism is not a part of God’s plan of salvation.

1 Corinthians 1:14–17 (NKJV)
¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.  ¹⁶ Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.  ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Those who oppose baptism always argue that Paul taught here that baptism is not necessary because he was not sent to baptize.  The problem is the passage does not say that.  There is nothing in ver. 17, or the entire context, for that matter, that tells us that baptism is unnecessary for salvation.

But, if Paul was not saying, or did not even imply, that baptism is unnecessary for salvation, what did he mean by the statement he made about baptism?  He meant exactly what he said.  Jesus did not send him to baptize.  His commission was the same as for all other Christians—go and preach.

Mark 16:15 (NKJV)
¹⁵ And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

This is the work of the evangelist.  Paul told Timothy, “Preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2).   We are all commanded to go and teach all nations (Matthew 28:19).  The question is, “What do we do with those who respond favorably to the gospel?”  Jesus tells us to baptize them.  What did Paul do with them?  We do not have to guess.  Scripture reveals to us that those who were taught by Paul were baptized.

Acts 18:8 (ESV)
⁸ Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with his entire household. And many of the Corinthians hearing Paul believed and were baptized.

Why were the Corinthians baptized after hearing Paul preach?  The answer is obvious—because he instructed them to be baptized, and in doing so, he was himself following the instructions of Christ (Matthew 28:19-20).

What we learn about baptism from 1 Corinthians 1:14-17 is not that baptism is unnecessary for salvation, but that the baptizer is not the important one in the process.  Anyone can baptize.  So, in Paul’s case, he would do the preaching and others would baptize.   However, that baptism is essential is seen in that everyone Paul was writing to in the church at Corinth had been baptized after Paul taught them what they had to do.

Baptism puts one into Christ (Galatians 3:27); makes it possible for one to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4); saves (1 Peter 3:21); and is for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  With all that the Bible says about the place, power, and importance of baptism, do you really think that Paul would teach that it was not necessary?  If you do, quoting a passage that does not even say that will not help you make your case.  If you have not been baptized, do what Paul did—he was baptized (Acts 9:18), and the reason he was, according to his own words, was in order to walk in the newness of life (Romans 6:4).  

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.