Does this passage refute the necessity of Baptism for Salvation?

[Former Member Amorphous]

Does this passage refute the necessity of Baptism for Salvation? I was just reading this chapter in 1 Corinthians.

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius; Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. 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 1:12‭-‬17 KJV

Sent from my stone tablet

 

[Squire Robertsson]

I'd say yes. But then Baptists don't hold that baptism is necessity for salvation, in some form of baptismal regeneration.

 

[rsr]

No. Paul was simply saying that he did not ordinarily perform baptism because he did not want some converts to consider they had a superior baptism because they were converted through his efforts.

 

[The Biblicist]

Does this passage refute the necessity of Baptism for Salvation? I was just reading this chapter in 1 Corinthians.


Sent from my stone tablet

Of course he was sent to baptize as that is part of the Great Commission, a part which he administered personally and/or through those that accompanied him. However, the issue here is one of emphasizing baptism and the baptismal administrator above all else so that the church is split into party divisions over baptism. It is in this sense, he was not sent to baptize. The gospel takes precedence over baptism.

However, in demonstrating that the gospel takes precedence over baptism this text most certainly does repudiate baptismal regeneration in several ways. First, he is directly comparing the superiority of the gospel to baptism with regard to the power of God in salvation. He directly attributes the power of salvation to the gospel rather than to baptism. Hence, this repudiates baptismal regeneration as baptismal regeneration would make the power of salvation inclusive with baptism.

Moreover, it repudiates baptismal regeneration most emphatically by the fact that Paul is addressing specifically what Christ sent him to do with regard to the gospel in contrast to baptism. He says here "Christ SENT ME NOT to baptize" while in Acts 26:17-18 we have Christ's own words "Now I SEND THEE to.." with regard to the gospel:

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

A. Christ sent me not to baptize
B. Christ did send him to open their eyes
C. Therefore, their eyes can be opened without baptism.

A. Christ sent me not to baptize
B. Christ did send him to turn them from darkness to light
C. Therefore, they can be turned from darkness to light without baptism

A. Christ sent me not to baptize
B. Christ did send him to turn them...from the power of Satan unto God
C. Therefore, they can be turned from the power of Satan unto God without baptism

A. Christ sent me not to baptize
B. Christ did send him that they may receive forgiveness of sins
C. Therefore, they can receive forgiveness of sins without baptism.

A. Christ sent me not to baptize
B. Christ did send him that they may receive....inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith
C. Therefore, they can receive inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith without baptism

Furthermore, this commission of Christ is interpreted by Paul with reference to the gospel as he continues to say"

22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.

The gospel provides LITERAL salvation where baptism at best only supplies FIGURATIVE salvation (1 Pet. 3:21).