Parallel Verses

Amplified

For Christ did not send me [as an apostle] to baptize, but [commissioned and empowered me] to preach the good news [of salvation]—not with clever and eloquent speech [as an orator], so that the cross of Christ would not be made ineffective [deprived of its saving power].

New American Standard Bible

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

King James Version

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.

Holman Bible

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to evangelize—not with clever words, so that the cross of Christ will not be emptied of its effect.

International Standard Version

For the Messiah did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, not with eloquent wisdom, so the cross of the Messiah won't be emptied of its power.

A Conservative Version

For Christ sent me not to immerse, but to preach the good-news, not in wisdom of speech lest the cross of Christ would be emptied.

American Standard Version

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.

An Understandable Version

For Christ did not send me to immerse people, but to preach the good news. [Note: Christ specifically commissioned Paul to preach; most of the immersing was done by his attendants]. It was not to be done with words of [human] wisdom, so that the [message of the] cross of Christ would not have its power taken away.

Anderson New Testament

For Christ sent me not to immerse, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of speech, lest the cross of the Christ should be deprived of its power.

Bible in Basic English

For Christ sent me, not to give baptism, but to be a preacher of the good news: not with wise words, for fear that the cross of Christ might be made of no value.

Common New Testament

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

Daniel Mace New Testament

for Christ did not send me to baptize: but to preach the gospel: tho' not with the preaching of the wise, lest the cross of Christ should have been hinder'd in its efficacy.

Darby Translation

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.

Godbey New Testament

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with the wisdom of speech, in order that the cross of Christ may not be made of none effect.

Goodspeed New Testament

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the good news??ut not with fine language, or the cross of Christ might seem an empty thing.

John Wesley New Testament

I know not that I baptized any other. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel; but not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Julia Smith Translation

For Christ sent me not to immerse, but to announce good news: not in wisdom of word, lest the cross of Christ be made void.

King James 2000

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 no effect.

Lexham Expanded Bible

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel, not with {clever speech}, lest the cross of Christ be emptied.

Modern King James verseion

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not in wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

For Christ sent me not to baptise, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should have been made of none effect.

Moffatt New Testament

Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel. And to preach it with no fine rhetoric, lest the cross of Christ should lose its power!

Montgomery New Testament

For Christ did not think I baptized any one else. For Christ did not send me forth to baptize, but to proclaim the gospel; and that not in philosophic words, lest the Cross of Christ should be made an empty thing.

NET Bible

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel -- and not with clever speech, so that the cross of Christ would not become useless.

New Heart English Bible

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to proclaim the Good News?not in wisdom of words, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.

Noyes New Testament

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Sawyer New Testament

For Christ sent me not to baptize but to preach the good news, not with a wisdom of speech lest the cross of Christ should be without effect.

The Emphasized Bible

For Christ sent me not, to be immersing, but to be telling the good news, - not with wisdom of discourse, lest, void should be made, the cross of the Christ.

Thomas Haweis New Testament

For Christ sent me not to baptise, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of discourse, lest the cross of Christ should be slighted.

Twentieth Century New Testament

My mission from Christ was not to baptize, but to tell the Good News; not, however, in the language of philosophy, lest the cross of the Christ should be robbed of its meaning.

Webster

For Christ hath not sent me to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Weymouth New Testament

Christ did not send me to baptize, but to proclaim the Good News; and not in merely wise words--lest the Cross of Christ should be deprived of its power.

Williams New Testament

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the good news -- but not by means of wisdom and rhetoric, so that the cross of Christ may not be emptied of its power.

World English Bible

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.

Worrell New Testament

For Christ sent me not to immerse, but to proclaim the Gospel; not in wisdom of speech, lest the cross of Christ should be made void.

Worsley New Testament

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not in fine speech, least the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Youngs Literal Translation

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;

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
For
γάρ 
Gar 
for, , not tr
Usage: 825

Χριστός 
christos 
Usage: 557

ἀποστέλλω 
Apostello 
Usage: 73

me
μέ 
me 
me, I, my, not tr
Usage: 122

not
οὐ 
Ou 
οὐ 
Ou 
not, no, cannot ,
not, no, cannot ,
Usage: 1032
Usage: 1032

to baptize
βαπτίζω 
Baptizo 
Usage: 65

but
ἀλλά 
Alla 
but, yea, yet, nevertheless, howbeit, nay, therefore, save, not tr,
Usage: 461

to preach the gospel
εὐαγγελίζω 
Euaggelizo 
Usage: 50

with
ἐν 
En 
in, by, with, among, at, on, through,
Usage: 2128

σοφία 
Sophia 
Usage: 45

of words
λόγος 
Logos 
word, saying, account, speech, Word , thing, not tr,
Usage: 256

ἵνα 
Hina 
that, to,
Usage: 472

the cross
σταυρός 
Stauros 
Usage: 22

of Christ
Χριστός 
christos 
Usage: 557

Devotionals

Devotionals about 1 Corinthians 1:17

Devotionals containing 1 Corinthians 1:17

Images 1 Corinthians 1:17

Prayers for 1 Corinthians 1:17

Context Readings

Divisions In The Church At Corinth

16 Now I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know if I baptized anyone else. 17 For Christ did not send me [as an apostle] to baptize, but [commissioned and empowered me] to preach the good news [of salvation]—not with clever and eloquent speech [as an orator], so that the cross of Christ would not be made ineffective [deprived of its saving power]. 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness [absurd and illogical] to those who are perishing and spiritually dead [because they reject it], but to us who are being saved [by God’s grace] it is [the manifestation of] the power of God.

Cross References

1 Corinthians 2:1

And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming to you the testimony of God [concerning salvation through Christ], I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom [no lofty words of eloquence or of philosophy as a Greek orator might do];

1 Corinthians 2:13

We also speak of these things, not in words taught or supplied by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining and interpreting spiritual thoughts with spiritual words [for those being guided by the Holy Spirit].

John 4:2

(although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),

2 Corinthians 10:10

for they say, “His letters are weighty and forceful and impressive, but his personal presence is unimpressive and his speech contemptible [of no account].”

Acts 10:48

And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay there for a few days.

2 Peter 1:16

For we did not follow cleverly devised stories or myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty [His grandeur, His authority, His sovereignty].

Acts 26:17-18

[choosing you for Myself and] rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,

1 Corinthians 2:4-5

And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom [using clever rhetoric], but [they were delivered] in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit [operating through me] and of [His] power [stirring the minds of the listeners and persuading them],

2 Corinthians 4:2

But we have renounced the disgraceful things hidden because of shame; not walking in trickery or adulterating the word of God, but by stating the truth [openly and plainly], we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4

For though we walk in the flesh [as mortal men], we are not carrying on our [spiritual] warfare according to the flesh and using the weapons of man.

2 Corinthians 11:6

But even if I am unskilled in speaking, yet I am not [untrained] in knowledge [I know what I am talking about]; but we have made this evident to you in every way, in all things.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain