1 Corinthians 1:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Paul recalls also baptizing Stephanas' household, but does not remember baptizing anyone else.
What Does 1 Corinthians 1:16 Mean?
Paul adds a correction as he remembers: he did also baptize the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, he cannot recall baptizing anyone else in Corinth.
This candid uncertainty underscores his point. The exact tally of who baptized whom simply does not matter to him, because baptism was never about the one who performs it. What matters is the Lord into whose name they were all baptized. Paul's casual forgetfulness about the count quietly rebukes a church that was keeping careful score of which leader each of them followed. The arithmetic of factions means nothing where every believer belongs alike to Christ.
1 Corinthians 1:16 in the Original Language
oikos (οἶκος), 'household' -- a house and all who belong to it, the family unit.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Corinthians 1:16
What does 1 Corinthians 1:16 mean?
Paul recalls also baptizing Stephanas' household, but does not remember baptizing anyone else.