1 Corinthians 1:17 (KJV)

Passage

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.

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

1 Corinthians 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

1 Corinthians 1:17 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 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "christ", "sent", "baptize", "preach", "gospel", "wisdom", "words", and "lest". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "christ" and "sent", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "And I baptized also the household of..." into verse 18's "For the preaching of the cross is...", so "christ" and "sent" belong inside that flow. In 1 Corinthians context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "christ" and "sent" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.