1 Corinthians 1:17 kjv

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.

1 Corinthians 1:17 nkjv

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.

1 Corinthians 1:17 niv

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel?not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

1 Corinthians 1:17 esv

For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

1 Corinthians 1:17 nlt

For Christ didn't send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News ? and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.

1 Corinthians 1 verses

1 Corinthians 1 17 Meaning

In 1 Corinthians 1:17, the Apostle Paul clarifies his divine commission, asserting that Christ primarily sent him not to perform the rite of baptism, but to proclaim the good news of the Gospel. He further specifies that this preaching should not rely on persuasive human eloquence or philosophical arguments, lest the transformative power and salvific truth of Christ's crucifixion be diminished, made ineffective, or overshadowed by human intellect and rhetoric. The verse emphasizes the divine power inherent in the message of the cross itself, independent of worldly wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1 17 Context

1 Corinthians 1:17 is embedded within Paul's fervent appeal to the Corinthian church to abandon their divisions and factions, which were based largely on allegiances to different spiritual leaders (like Paul, Apollos, Cephas). The Corinthians, living in a major Greco-Roman city with a strong tradition of rhetoric and philosophy, were often impressed by eloquent speech and human wisdom, and this worldly influence had permeated their spiritual understanding, leading them to value articulate speakers over the simple yet profound truth of the Gospel. Paul's emphasis on his primary commission (preaching the gospel over baptizing) directly addresses the specific division that had arisen around who baptized them. More fundamentally, his critique of "wisdom of words" directly confronts their fascination with human intellectual prowess, positioning the "foolishness" of the cross as God's true wisdom and power, thereby cutting off any basis for boasting in men or human achievement (1 Cor 1:26-31). This verse serves as a crucial theological foundation for understanding the entire book of 1 Corinthians, especially chapters 1-4, which relentlessly contrast God's wisdom with human wisdom.

1 Corinthians 1 17 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): Connects to the preceding verses, providing a reason for Paul's thanksgiving that he did not baptize many. It signals a shift from Paul's personal thankfulness to a deeper theological explanation of his mission.
• Christ (Χριστός - Christos): Refers to Jesus, the Messiah, emphasizing His authority as the one who commissions apostles. The commission is divine, not human.
• Sent (ἀπέστειλεν - aposteilen): Perfect active indicative of apostellō, meaning "to send forth with a specific commission or purpose." This is the root of the word "apostle." It underscores Paul's divine authorization and specific task directly from Christ Himself.
• Me (με - me): Paul's personal identity as the divinely appointed messenger.
• Not (οὐ - ou): A strong negation. Paul is stating what was not his primary mission.
• To baptize (βαπτίζειν - baptizein): An infinitive describing the action of immersion in water. While important, Paul distinguishes it from his main calling to counter the Corinthian's misdirected loyalties. Baptism is a symbol and an act of obedience, but the power resides in the gospel itself, not the one who performs the ritual.
• But (ἀλλά - alla): A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a contrast and emphasizing the subsequent statement as the true purpose.
• To preach the gospel (εὐαγγελίζεσθαι - euangelizesthai): A present infinitive, meaning "to proclaim the good news," specifically the good news about Christ. This is Paul's primary and overriding commission. The power is in the message, not the messenger's rhetorical skill.
• Not with wisdom (οὐκ ἐν σοφίᾳ - ouk en sophia): Sophia refers to human knowledge, intellectual skill, or philosophical insight. Paul rejects reliance on human intellectual prowess or cleverness.
• Of words (λόγου - logou): Refers to eloquent speech, polished rhetoric, or persuasive argumentation. The Corinthians admired such abilities, a characteristic of the "Second Sophistic" era. Paul insists that the power of the Gospel doesn't derive from sophisticated language but from divine power.
• Lest (ἵνα μὴ - hina mē): Introduces a negative purpose clause, indicating Paul's deliberate avoidance of a potential detrimental outcome.
• The cross (ὁ σταυρὸς - ho stauros): The crucifixion of Christ, the central event of the Gospel, symbolizing Christ's sacrificial death and resurrection for salvation. This refers to the core message and the power inherent in it.
• Of Christ (τοῦ Χριστοῦ - tou Christou): Specifies that this cross belongs to Christ, reinforcing its divine nature and redemptive power.
• Should be made of none effect (κενωθῇ - kenōthē): Aorist passive subjunctive of kenoo, meaning "to empty, nullify, make void, deprive of power, or render ineffective." Paul fears that if the Gospel relies on human wisdom, it will lose its intrinsic divine power and be reduced to merely another philosophical system or impressive human invention. This verb echoes Philippians 2:7 regarding Christ "emptying himself," but here it's about the Gospel message being emptied of its power by human additions.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel": This phrase defines Paul's apostolic priority. It’s a polemic against the Corinthian overemphasis on who performed their baptism, clarifying that while baptism is part of Christian life, it is secondary to the foundational proclamation of Christ's saving work. Paul intentionally stepped back from personal involvement in many baptisms to prevent his name from becoming a source of factional loyalty (1 Cor 1:14-16). His central role, commissioned by Christ, is evangelical.
• "not with wisdom of words": This is a direct challenge to the Hellenistic cultural value placed on oratorical skill and philosophical depth. Paul here distances himself and the Gospel from persuasive techniques of human rhetoric (sophia logou) and worldly philosophy that rely on clever argumentation or appealing logic. Such methods, he argues in the following verses (1 Cor 1:18-2:5), are antithetical to the nature of the Gospel and undermine God's method of salvation.
• "lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect": This explains the crucial "why" behind Paul's method. The ultimate danger is that the profound, transformative, and divinely powered message of Christ's cross—which saves by God's power through seeming foolishness—would be "emptied," "nullified," or "stripped of its power" if human wisdom takes center stage. If people's faith is based on the eloquence of the speaker rather than the power of God in the cross, their faith would be misdirected and weak. The Cross's power comes from God's act, not human explanation or persuasion.

1 Corinthians 1 17 Bonus section

The "wisdom of words" that Paul warns against was a significant cultural phenomenon in his time, often referred to as the "Second Sophistic." This was a period where highly trained orators (Sophists) were revered for their ability to impress audiences with rhetorical skill, argumentation, and intellectual display. The Corinthians, living in a cosmopolitan city heavily influenced by Greek thought, likely valued these traits even within their church gatherings. Paul consciously chose not to compete on this level, not out of incompetence (as his other letters demonstrate deep theological insight), but out of principle, ensuring that faith was based on the "power of God" rather than "wisdom of men" (1 Cor 2:5).

Furthermore, the choice of the word "κενόω" (kenoo) for "made of none effect" carries an interesting echo. While it here means to "empty of power," it's the same root word used in Philippians 2:7 to describe Christ "emptying Himself" (kenōsis) by taking on human form. This subtly connects the kenosis of Christ on the cross (His self-abasement) with the risk of human wisdom "emptying" the cross's power. In both instances, it highlights the divine method that subverts worldly expectations—God working powerfully through what appears weak or foolish to the world.

1 Corinthians 1 17 Commentary

1 Corinthians 1:17 encapsulates Paul's deep understanding of his apostolic mission and the essence of the Christian message. His primary directive from Christ was not to preside over rituals, though valuable, but to be a herald of the Gospel. This was a direct response to the Corinthian problem of factionalism rooted in attachment to leaders and their associated baptisms. Paul highlights that the power of salvation does not lie in the identity of the baptizer or in the human eloquence of the preacher.

The core theological concern is the "cross of Christ." To the world, a crucified Messiah was scandalous (to Jews) and foolish (to Greeks). Yet, Paul insists that it is precisely in this "foolishness" that God's power and wisdom are manifested. If the Gospel were preached with captivating rhetoric or intricate philosophical arguments, its intrinsic divine power would be diminished. Listeners might be persuaded by the speaker's skill rather than converted by the Spirit's power working through the simple, unadulterated message of the cross. This human elevation of words would subtly, but effectively, "empty" the cross of its unique, scandalizing, and redemptive power, making salvation seem a result of human wisdom rather than God's supernatural intervention through Christ's sacrifice. Paul champions a Christ-centered, cross-exalting proclamation where God alone receives the glory.

For practical usage, this verse reminds believers that true conversion and spiritual growth are products of God's power in the Gospel, not sophisticated preaching. It cautions against valuing oratorical flourish or intellectual complexity over the raw, potent message of Christ crucified and resurrected. It encourages humility in preaching, relying on the Spirit rather than human ingenuity.