14 “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.”
1:14
I thank God that I baptized none of you
Paul recognized the providence of God in permitting him to baptize but a few. There was no calculation on his part. Paul did not go to Corinth to get people to follow him by baptizing them. God’s sovereign act kept him from baptizing more than he did. He is grateful that more did not follow him personally.
except Crispus and Gaius
Crispus was the ruler of the synagogue when Paul first came to Corinth (Ac 18:8). Paul led him to Christ.
Gaius was a Roman settler and a Gentile convert who hosted Paul during his second visit to Corinth. The church met in his house next door to the synagogue when Christians could no longer worship in the synagogue (Ac 18:7; Ro 16:23).
1:15
lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name.
Paul was apprehensive that someone might assign a motive of part- making to him. He would brook no pretext for schism. The word “in” means into, implying allegiance. Paul did not serve for his own advancement or glory.
PRINCIPLE:
A temptation in ministry is to draw attention to ourselves.
APPLICATION:
A great temptation in ministry is to draw attention to self. We rationalize self-centeredness by claiming that the better people know us, the more ministries we will have. There is another temptation to assemble a cult following around ourselves.
