1 Corinthians 1:17 (YLT)

Passage

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but--to proclaim good news; not in wisdom of discourse, that the cross of the Christ may not be made of none effect;

Nearby Context

1 Corinthians 1:15 that no one may say that to my own name I did baptize;

1 Corinthians 1:16 and I did baptize also Stephanas' household--further, I have not known if I did baptize any other.

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but--to proclaim good news; not in wisdom of discourse, that the cross of the Christ may not be made of none effect;

1 Corinthians 1:18 for the word of the cross to those indeed perishing is foolishness, and to us--those being saved--it is the power of God,

1 Corinthians 1:19 for it hath been written, `I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the intelligence of the intelligent I will bring to nought;'

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "christ", "send", "baptize", "but--to", "proclaim", "good", "news", and "wisdom". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "christ" and "send", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 16's "and I did baptize also Stephanas' household--further..." into verse 18's "for the word of the cross to...", so "christ" and "send" 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 "send" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.