Lon
Well-known member
1) I didn't skip it. It is unconnected from 'what must I do' else "and" would have been there with a directive.I do. It's in the context of the verses you put up yet you skipped it. Why is that?
Spoiler
Jesus instructed the apostles on how to make someone a Christian.
Matt. 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
And we see the apostles do just that, even Paul.
Acts 19:5 On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Jesus in the same conversation before his ascension he says:
Mk. 16:15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
You see the order the Lord gives on being saved. If we look at the conversion of Paul, it agrees. His sins were not forgiven until he was made a Christian by being baptized in the name of Jesus.
Acts 22: 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’
If we look at the context it's obvious. People were claiming to follow the one who baptized them. Although Paul preached to many and many believed he only personally baptized a few. That is the meaning of he was not sent to baptize but to preach. He preaches but he is not under obligation to do the baptizing. As we can see when he actually preached to these Corinthians.
Acts 18:8 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.
Paul was thankful because:
15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.
Notice the "in my name".
Why does Paul ask this question?
Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
What was 'done' afterward is incidental to the answer to the question 'what must I do?'
2) Paul asks it, because 'in Christ' is crucial. Being baptized by Paul, was not. He was 'glad' not just concerned. He was glad he hadn't baptized anybody. Why? You asked. Specifically because their relationship was NOT with Paul, but with the Lord Jesus Christ. Especially then, the 'way' one declared they were for the Lord Jesus Christ, was by baptism. If I'm correct, and 'declaration' is the point, then telling people you are a Christian is part of the definition of 'baptism.' Sharing the gospel is part of the definition of 'baptism.' Baptidzo is a transliterated word. I believe context gives us some clarity that 'declaration' is close to its meaning. You are certainly welcome to disagree because context drives the meaning and we are both capable of reading for context. To me, it means declaration. Is water necessary? To me, that's beside the point. In Him -Lon