1 Corinthians 1:17 (ASV)

Passage

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 1:15 lest any man should say that ye were baptized into my 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 in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who 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 the discernment of the discerning will I bring to nought.

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 word 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.