Sometimes, people come to me with questions like this: “If baptism is so important, why did John say that Jesus Himself didn’t baptize?” Or, “Didn’t Paul say he was glad he didn’t baptize anyone but a few people? Doesn’t that show baptism isn’t necessary?”
I understand the confusion. On the surface, those verses may sound like Jesus and Paul didn’t see baptism as essential. But I want to walk you through this carefully—and biblically—because when we put these statements in context, we find that neither Jesus nor Paul dismissed the importance of baptism. In fact, both practiced it, taught it, and expected others to obey it.
Let’s start with something simple but foundational: both Jesus and Paul were baptized themselves.
Jesus wasn’t baptized because He had sins to wash away—He had none. But He was baptized by John “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). That was His example for us. He submitted, not because He had to, but because it was right.
Paul, on the other hand, did have sins. He was a persecutor of the church, a man in desperate need of grace. After his encounter with the risen Lord on the road to Damascus, he was instructed by Ananias: “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16)
That’s what Paul did. He arose, and he was baptized. Not later. Not symbolically. He submitted in faith and obedience to the very act that Jesus had commanded.
So let’s go back to the question: If baptism is essential, why does John write that “Jesus Himself did not baptize”? And why did Paul say, “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius”?
Let’s unpack that, one at a time.
Jesus Did Not Baptize—But His Disciples Did
In John 4:1-2, we read: “Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples)…”
This isn’t a rejection of baptism. It’s simply a clarification. Jesus didn’t personally perform the baptisms—but He taught them. His disciples baptized the converts.
This is what we call a figure of speech—a way of saying someone accomplished something even if they didn’t carry out every physical action. Think of a CEO who builds a company. He might not have poured the concrete or coded the software, but he is still said to have built the company because he authorized, led, and oversaw the work.
In the same way, Jesus didn’t place each person into the water Himself, but He was responsible for their baptisms through His teaching. The fact that they were baptized at all shows that He commanded it.
In fact, after His resurrection, Jesus gave the Great Commission: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them…” (Matthew 28:18–19)
There is no room for confusion—Jesus instructed that baptism be part of the process of making disciples.
Paul Didn’t Emphasize Who Baptized—But He Taught That People Be Baptized
Now, let’s look at Paul. In 1 Corinthians 1:14–17, Paul writes: “I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius… For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel…”
Now, some stop right there and say, “See? Paul didn’t think baptism mattered.” But let me ask you: Is that what Paul is really saying? Or is he making another point altogether?
Look at the context. Paul is writing to a divided church. Some were saying, “I’m of Paul,” or “I’m of Apollos,” or “I’m of Cephas.” They were creating factions based on who baptized them. So Paul steps in and says, I’m glad I didn’t baptize many of you, so you can’t say you belong to me.
He’s not minimizing baptism—he’s minimizing the baptizer. He didn’t want people clinging to him; he wanted them clinging to Christ.
And think about this: if Paul believed baptism was unnecessary, why would he have been baptized himself? Why would he have commanded others to be baptized? Why would he write to the Romans, “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Romans 6:3) Or to the Galatians, “For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ”? (Galatians 3:27)
Clearly, Paul believed in the necessity of baptism. He just didn’t want people to confuse the messenger with the message. Baptism is about uniting with Christ—not following the preacher.
So, Was Baptism Important to Jesus and Paul?
Absolutely. Jesus commanded it, and Paul preached it. Both recognized that the act of baptism is not about who performs it—it’s about what it signifies: submission to Christ, cleansing of sins, entrance into the body of Christ, and the moment when the blood of Jesus is applied to the believer.
It’s not the water that saves. It’s the obedience that puts us in contact with the blood of Christ. And baptism is where that obedience is carried out.
Just like Naaman in the Old Testament—he wasn’t healed by the Jordan River. He was healed when he humbled himself and dipped as God commanded. The power wasn’t in the water; the power was in the God who gave the command.
And so it is today. When a person hears the gospel, believes in Jesus, repents of their sin, confesses Christ, and is baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38), they are saved—not because of a ritual, but because they’ve submitted to the will of God.
The Bottom Line
So no, Jesus didn’t personally baptize—but He taught it and commanded it. Paul didn’t baptize many—but he preached baptism wherever he went. Neither one rejected baptism—they simply made it clear: the person doing the baptizing isn’t what matters. It’s Christ who matters.
Let’s not be confused by the noise. Let’s stick to the Word. The gospel is clear: “He who believes and is baptized will be saved.” (Mark 16:16)
Let’s preach that. Let’s obey that. And let’s help others do the same—so that all can come to know the joy of salvation through Jesus Christ.
