<p>1:17 - see on Mt. 3:8; Gal. 6:14.</p><p><em>For Christ sent me not so much as to baptize, but to preach the gospel- </em>See on :14. The construction involving 'not' doesn't have to mean 'Not at all', but rather 'not' with conditions. Sometimes we need to read into the text the idea of &quot;not so much <em>this</em>, as <em>that</em>&quot;. Thus &quot;Christ sent me not so much as to baptize, but to preach the Gospel&quot; (1 Cor. 1:17 AV). Paul of course <em>did</em> baptize people, as he goes on to say in that very context (1 Cor. 1:14). Or take Jer. 7:22,23: &quot;I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them... concerning burnt offerings or sacrifices: but this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God&quot;. God <em>did </em>command sacrifices; but He <em>not so much</em> commanded them <em>as</em> required Israel's spirit of obedience and acceptance of Him.</p><p>Paul's mission was to spread the word; human response to it was not something he unduly focused upon. Inappropriate focus on results in terms of baptisms can lead missionary endeavour into all manner of wrong paths.This is probably hyperbole (i.e. grossly exaggerated language to make a point). The command to preach and baptize as given in the great preaching commission was just one command; preaching-and-baptizing went together. It seems to me that Paul <em>did</em> baptize; but using the figure of hyperbole, he's saying: 'My emphasis is on getting on with the work of preaching the Gospel, the fact I've held the shoulders of many men and women as I pushed them under the water is irrelevant; Christ didn't send me to just do this, but more importantly to preach the Gospel'. And may this be our attitude too.</p><p><i>Not in the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no power- </i>Paul did not seek to pressure people into baptism because he believed that the simple presentation of the cross of Christ would of itself elicit faith in people. This for all time demonstrates that apologetics and &quot;the wisdom of words&quot; will not persuade men to faith. That persuasion is in the message itself, which is of Christ crucified. No amount of smart arguments from science, archaeology, Bible prophecy being fulfilled etc. will of themselves persuade to faith. The bald presentation of the Gospel of the crucified Christ will of itself be 'powerful' to convert. And I speak from wide personal experience- as well as the clear implication of Paul's argument here. The paradox is that on the cross, the Lord 'made Himself of no power' (s.w. Phil. 2:7), and it was that moment of human powerlessness which is of power to convert. This is the mystery of faith. It is a paradox which is developed in the following verses; what appears foolishness in the eyes of men is in fact the deep wisdom and saving power of God.</p><p>Paul had been reconciled, as have all men, by the cross. But he still needed to be converted, and this depended upon the freewill obedience of the likes of Ananias. It really is so, for Paul warned that preaching the Gospel with wisdom of words would make &ldquo;the cross of Christ... of none effect&rdquo; (1 Cor. 1:17). The effect of the cross, the power of it to save, is limited in its extent by our manner of preaching of it. And we can make &ldquo;Christ&rdquo;, i.e. His cross, of &ldquo;none effect&rdquo; by trusting to our works rather than accepting the gracious salvation which He achieved (Gal. 5:4).</p><p>Paul declared unto Corinth &ldquo;the testimony of God&quot;, i.e. &ldquo;Christ and Him crucified&quot; (1 Cor. 2:1,2). This message was &ldquo;in demonstration of the Spirit and of power&quot;, &ldquo;the wisdom of God&quot;, &ldquo;Christ crucified&quot; (1 Cor. 1:17,23,24; 2:4,5). Indeed, &ldquo;the cross of Christ&quot; is put for &lsquo;the preaching of His cross&rsquo; (1:17). All these things are parallel. The cross is in itself the testimony and witness of God. This is why, Paul reasons, the power of the cross itself means that it doesn&rsquo;t matter how poorly that message is presented in human words; indeed, such is its excellence and power that we even <em>shouldn&rsquo;t seek</em> to present it with a layer of human &lsquo;culture&rsquo; and verbiage shrouding it.</p>