Is Baptism Part of the Gospel?
Why would anyone affirm that baptism is not part of the Gospel? Some take that position because of a misunderstanding of I Corinthians 1:17. The scripture says, “For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel.” Notice that Paul was not sent “to baptize, but to preach the Gospel.” Some understand this to mean that preaching the Gospel does not include preaching about baptism.
I am persuaded that the view I have explained here is false, and that it is an abuse of scripture to use Paul’s statement in I Corinthians 1:17 to teach that baptism has nothing to do with preaching the Gospel or with the plan of salvation. Did Paul really mean to convey the idea that baptism is not a part of preaching the Gospel? Let us see by considering the context of I Corinthians 1.
In order to draw proper conclusions from the teachings of the Bible, we must keep verses in context. Here is a brief explanation of the context: The Corinthians, to whom Paul wrote, were divided. Some were saying “I am of Paul”; others, “I am of Apollos”; there were also some saying “I am of Cephas,” and then there were those stating that they were “of Christ” (I Corinthians 1:13). The church was divided because they were exalting the men who baptized them or who taught them the Gospel. Their divisive spirit was wrong; therefore, Paul wrote to rebuke the Corinthians for causing division by exalting men (I Corinthians 1:10; 4:6). It mattered not “who” did the baptizing. Those who were baptized by Apollos or Cephas were just as saved as those baptized by Paul, and vice versa. This is a proper understanding of the context.
When Paul wrote that he was not sent “to baptize, but to preach the Gospel,” he was not excluding baptism from the Gospel; rather, he meant to teach that the one who baptized others was not to be praised or exalted. It mattered not who did the baptizing. The focus was on preaching the Gospel, and when Paul preached the Gospel in Corinth—as a direct result of his preaching—people were baptized (Acts 18:8; I Corinthians 15:1-2). This proves that Paul included baptism in his preaching!
Also, it would be good to consider this question: If Paul believed that baptism was no part of the plan of salvation, then why did “he” baptize people in Corinth? Yes, Paul himself baptized some of the Corinthians. He stated: “I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I baptized in mine own name” (I Corinthians 1:14-15). Paul also baptized “the household of Stephanas” (I Corinthians 1:16). We must conclude therefore, that Paul considered baptism to be part of the Gospel and relevant to salvation. Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).
