1^st Corinthians 1v15

Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.

This verse is the third among the five verses in a row (1^st Corinthians 1v13-17 {79 } {80 } {81 } {82 } {83 }) that all mention baptism in one form or another. The point of Paul’s argument at this point becomes focussed on the difference of ministry between that of Paul and that of Jesus. Paul had been the minister by which the Corinthians had been saved, but everything he had said or done had been pointing them towards Jesus. Clearly a slander that he had thankfully avoided was anybody attempting to say that they were baptised in Paul’s name. They were all baptised in a single name, and while it is not evident from this particular verse, every single reference to baptism in this letter at least hints that the name used in baptism was that of Jesus. This also shows the futility of the contentions, where some had been saying that they were “of Paul” or others – in fact, all should have been saying that they were “of Jesus”.