Parallel Verses
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.
New American Standard Bible
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
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.
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
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;
Themes
Disciples/apostles » What jesus Christ sent his disciples to do
Evangelism » Jesus Christ sending forth disciples to preach
Ministers » Should preach » Not with enticing words of man's wisdom
Ministers » Are bound, to » Preach the gospel to all
Philosophy » Employment of, was not paul's method of preaching the gospel
Interlinear
Devotionals
Devotionals about 1 Corinthians 1:17
Devotionals containing 1 Corinthians 1:17
References
Watsons
Word Count of 37 Translations in 1 Corinthians 1:17
Images 1 Corinthians 1:17
Prayers for 1 Corinthians 1:17
Verse Info
Context Readings
Divisions In The Church At Corinth
16 (Oh, yes, I also immersed the family of Stephanas. Besides these, I do not remember immersing anyone else). 17 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. 18 For the message of [Christ dying on] the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing [i.e., in a lost state], but it is God's power to us who are being saved.
Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:1
And when I came to you, brothers, it was not with eloquent words or [superior] wisdom that I proclaimed to you the testimony [or, mystery] about God.
1 Corinthians 2:13
These also are the things we [apostles] speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but [in words] taught by the Holy Spirit. We use [or, combine] Spirit-taught words to express [or, with] Spirit-given truth.
John 4:2
(OMITTED TEXT)
2 Corinthians 10:10
For some people are saying, "Paul's letters are heavy and severe, but in person he is [physically?] weak and his speaking ability is unimpressive."
Acts 10:48
So, Peter commanded them to be immersed in the name of Jesus Christ. Then Cornelius and his household asked Peter to stay on for a number of days.
2 Peter 1:16
For we did not use cleverly conceived stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, because we were eyewitnesses of His Majesty [i.e., the apostles had personally seen the miraculous power of Jesus].
Acts 26:17-18
I will rescue you from the [Jewish] people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them,
1 Corinthians 2:4-5
And I did not use persuasive words of [human] wisdom in my message and preaching, but they were [accompanied by] a demonstration of the Holy Spirit and power [from God]. [Note: This "demonstration" could have included the evidence of miraculous spiritual gifts which Paul utilized while there in Corinth. See 14:18].
2 Corinthians 4:2
Instead, we have renounced [the practice of] secret, disgraceful behavior. We do not practice deception, nor resort to distorting God's message. But, by making known the truth [i.e., the true message], we commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the presence of God.
2 Corinthians 10:3-4
For although we live in the world [i.e., in a human body], we do not wage war [i.e., for God and against evil] on a worldly level [i.e., by using the tactics of unsaved people].
2 Corinthians 11:6
But even though I am an unpolished speaker, I am not lacking in knowledge. We have made this clear to you in every way.