Is Baptism Necessary For Salvation?
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:17 that Christ did not send him to baptize. Does this mean that baptism is not necessary for salvation? Karlo Broussard gives the reason why the answer is no and explains what Paul meant.
For more information about this topic, please visit our website at: catholic.com.
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About Karlo Broussard:
Karlo Broussard, a native of Crowley, Louisiana, left a promising musical career to devote himself full-time to the work of Catholic apologetics. For more than a decade he has traveled the country teaching apologetics, biblical studies, theology, and philosophy. Karlo has published articles on a variety of subjects in Catholic Answers Magazine, is a regular guest on Catholic Answers Live, and is an active blogger at catholic.com.
Karlo holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in theology from Catholic Distance University and the Augustine Institute, and is currently working on his masters in philosophy with Holy Apostles College and Seminary. He also worked for several years in an apprenticeship with nationally known author and theologian Fr. Robert J. Spitzer at the Magis Center of Reason and Faith.
Karlo is one of the most dynamic and gifted Catholic speakers on the circuit today, communicating with precision of thought, a genuine love for God, and an enthusiasm that inspires.
Script:
St. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:17, “Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel.” Many evangelicals see this passage as an indication that baptism is not necessary for salvation.
But is this true? The answer’s no and here are some reasons why!
First, Paul doesn't mean, “I don’t have authorization to baptize.” If he did mean that, then he would have acted in disobedience when he baptized Crispus, Gaius, and the household of Stephanas, which he tells us about in the preceding verses. Do we want to say that the great Apostle Paul was disobedient to Jesus’ instruction? Of course not!
Furthermore, it doesn’t make sense that Paul would not have a mandate to baptize when Jesus tells all the apostles in Matthew 28:19-20 to go into all the nations and make disciples by baptizing them.
So, what did he mean?
It’s much more likely Paul was using hyperbole in order to stress two important things: 1) the focus of his ministry was to preach the invitation to salvation and not so much the response to the invitation, namely baptism; and 2) it doesn’t matter by whom you’re baptized—whether it’s Cephas, Apollos, or Paul—it’s the same baptism and every Christian belongs to Christ. This is topic of the preceding verses leading up to the verse in question.
So, Paul doesn’t intend for his readers to think baptism is not necessary for salvation in 1 Corinthians 1:17. That’s simply a misunderstanding of the text.
If you want to learn more about this topic and others like it, visit our website at catholic.com.
For Catholic Answers, I’m Karlo Broussard. Thanks for watching
