“Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.”
Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas.
Stephanas was one of three couriers who notified Paul of the Corinthian church’s spiritual condition (16:15-18). “Household” includes slaves. Paul personally baptized the household of Stephanas. Jesus did not personally baptize anyone (Jn 4:2). Paul baptized very few. Obviously, baptism is not central to the gospel, yet, he does not depreciate baptism but puts it in proper perspective as a symbol of the reality of the cross, burial, and resurrection.
Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other.
Paul does not remember whether he baptized any other people. Inspiration is not mechanical or dictated. God does not divorce humanity from the authors of Scripture when He uses them to write Scripture.
PRINCIPLE:
Inspiration is not mechanical, but it is inerrant.
APPLICATION:
The inspiration of Scripture is not mechanical. God used the personality of the human author of Scripture to write in his own style and vocabulary. Yet, the Holy Spirit, as the supernatural Author, supernaturally superintended his writing so that the human author made no errors. This is why we can implicitly trust the Word of God as authoritative and accurate.
