I Corinthians 1:14

I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius (KJV)

Then: How bitter this sounds when read alone! How awful (aweful?) a person it makes Paul sound. Thankfulness is usually seen as joyful, but not this. No one could have been happy to receive this letter. So what does Paul mean? He is glad no one can blame him for the misguided service the Corinthians are rendering to Christ. They don't understand about baptism into the Spirit of Christ, that once in him they have the capability of treating everyone in the body equally. Instead they've divided themselves into groups (cliques) and are lambasting each other.

[Note - Crispus from Acts 18:18 was a leader of Corinth's synagogue before his conversion. Gaius was probably the same guy in Romans 16:23 who let Paul stay at his house and let other believers worhip in his home. (Baker, p. 30).]

Now: "Well I'm glad that I didn't...." Sound familiar? Sometimes we react the same way as Paul when circumstances turn out for ill rather than good. We feel sorry for the bickering Corinthians, but then find similarities in our own lives. Sometimes we can see ourselves as Paul. Sometimes we see ourselves as one of the Corinthians. That's why scripture is valuable. It points us to Christ who died for us all - not just one group or another. And it moves us to true thanksgiving, the hope and surety that our hearts will change.

Extra source: Cornerstone Biblical Commentary 1 Corinthians (William Baker), 2 Corinthians (Ralph Martin & Carl Toney), ed. by Philip Comfort. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, c2006.