1 Corinthians 1:17

15 so no one can say that you were baptized into my name.

16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that I do not remember if I baptized anyone else.

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with words of wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
KJV
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.
WEB
For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the Good News—not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ wouldn’t be made void.
ASV
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.
DARBY
For Christ has not sent me to baptise, but to preach glad tidings; not in wisdom of word, that the cross of the Christ may not be made vain.
BLB
For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in wisdom of word, so that the cross of the Christ should not be made void.
ÅB
For Kristus har ikke utsendt meg for å døpe, men for å forkynne evangeliet, ikke med vise ord, for at Kristi kors ikke skulle tape sin kraft.
OTB
For Kristus sendte meg ikke for å døpe, men for å forkynne evangeliet, ikke med veltalende visdom, slik at Kristi kors ikke skulle bli gjort til intet.
B1930
For Kristus har ikke utsendt mig for å døpe, men for å forkynne evangeliet, ikke med vise ord, for at Kristi kors ikke skulde tape sin kraft.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Corinthians 2:1

    When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 2:13

    And this is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

    Read in context
  • 2 Peter 1:16

    For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

    Read in context
  • 1 Corinthians 2:4–5

    My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 10:10

    For some say, “His letters are weighty and forceful, but his physical presence is unimpressive, and his speaking is of no account.”

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 4:2

    Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

    Read in context
  • John 4:2

    (although it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples),

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 11:6

    Although I am not a polished speaker, I am certainly not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way possible.

    Read in context