The Meaning of 1 Corinthians 1:16 Explained

1 Corinthians 1:16

KJV: And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

YLT: and I did baptize also Stephanas' household -- further, I have not known if I did baptize any other.

Darby: Yes, I baptised also the house of Stephanas; for the rest I know not if I have baptised any other.

ASV: And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  I baptized  also  the household  of Stephanas:  besides,  I know  not  whether I baptized  any  other. 

What does 1 Corinthians 1:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The members of Stephanus" family were the first converts in the Roman province of Achaia ( 1 Corinthians 16:15). It was unimportant to Paul whom he personally baptized; he was not keeping score. This is clear because he temporarily forgot that he had baptized these people. As he continued to write, the Lord brought them to mind.
"Paul casts no reflection on baptism, for he could not with his conception of it as the picture of the new life in Christ ( Romans 6:2-6), but he clearly denies here that he considers baptism essential to the remission of sin or the means of obtaining forgiveness." [1]

Context Summary

1 Corinthians 1:12-25 - The Cross God's Saving Power
Apollos had gone straight from Ephesus to Corinth, Acts 19:1. A party gathered around him, especially attracted by his eloquence and intellectual brilliance. Cephas was Peter, and around his name the more conservative elements gathered. Christ, stood for the promised glory of the Messianic kingdom. Paul was filled with dismay on hearing that a fourth division of the Church called themselves by his name. He told the Corinthians that whatever any of their human teachers had done for them, they had contributed only different phases or viewpoints of truth, all of which service sank into absolute insignificance as contrasted with the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The cross here implies not only the doctrine of the Atonement, but the humble bearing of the cross in daily life. There are many who wear a cross as an article of dress, but who evince nothing of its pitying, self-immolating, sacrificial spirit. Everyone needs a Calvary in the heart. Note from 1 Corinthians 1:18, r.v., margin, that being saved is a process, as well as an immediate experience. Oh to have grace to know the Cross, never to be ashamed of it, and to preach a crucified Savior in a humble, crucified spirit! [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Corinthians 1

1  After his salutation and thanksgiving for the Corinthians,
10  Paul exhorts them to unity,
12  and reproves their dissensions
18  God destroys the wisdom of the wise,
21  by the foolishness of preaching;
26  and calls not the wise, mighty, and noble,
28  but the foolish, weak, and men of no account

Greek Commentary for 1 Corinthians 1:16

Also the household of Stephanas [και τον Στεπανα οικον]
Mentioned as an afterthought. Robertson and Plummer suggest that Paul‘s amanuensis reminded him of this case. Paul calls him a first-fruit of Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:15) and so earlier than Crispus and he was one of the three who came to Paul from Corinth (1 Corinthians 16:17), clearly a family that justified Paul‘s personal attention about baptism. [source]
Besides [λοιπον]
Accusative of general reference, “as for anything else.” Added to make clear that he is not meaning to omit any one who deserves mention. See also 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 1 Corinthians 4:2; 2 Corinthians 13:11; 2 Timothy 4:8. Ellicott insists on a sharp distinction from το λοιπον — to loipon “as for the rest” (2 Thessalonians 3:1; Philemon 3:1; Philemon 4:8; Ephesians 6:10). Paul casts no reflection on baptism, for he could not with his conception of it as the picture of the new life in Christ (Romans 6:2-6), but he clearly denies here that he considers baptism essential to the remission of sin or the means of obtaining forgiveness. [source]
And I baptized also []
Another exceptional case occurs to him which he conscientiously adds. The δὲ andhas a slightly corrective force. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 1 Corinthians 1:16

1 Corinthians 16:15 Ye know [οιδατε]
Koiné{[28928]}š form for second perfect indicative used as present of οραω — horaō Parenthetic clause through rest of the verse. Stephanas is mentioned also in 1 Corinthians 1:16 and in 1 Corinthians 16:17. For απαρχη — aparchē see note on 1 Corinthians 15:20, 1 Corinthians 15:23. [source]
1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover [λοιπον]
Like λοιπον — loipon in 1 Corinthians 1:16 which see, accusative of general reference, as for what is left, besides. It is required (ζητειται — zēteitai). It is sought. Many MSS. read ζητειτε — zēteite ye seek, an easy change as αι — ai and ε — e came to be pronounced alike (Robertson, Grammar, p. 186). That a man be found faithful Non-final use of ινα — hina with first aorist passive subjunctive of ευρισκω — heuriskō the result of the seeking Fidelity is the essential requirement in all such human relationships, in other words, plain honesty in handling money like bank-clerks or in other positions of trust like public office. [source]
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally [λοιπόν]
Lit., as for the rest. Sometimes rendered now, as Matthew 26:45. “Sleep on now,” for the time that remains. Besides, as 1 Corinthians 1:16. It remaineth, 1 Corinthians 7:29. Henceforth, 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 10:13. Often as here, finally. In every case the idea of something left over is at the bottom of the translation. [source]
1 Timothy 4:3 To abstain from meats [απεχεσται βρωματων]
Infinitive dependent, not on κωλυοντων — kōluontōn but on the positive idea κελευοντων — keleuontōn (implied, not expressed). Ablative case of βρωματων — brōmatōn after απεχεσται — apechesthai (present direct middle, to hold oneself away from). See 1 Corinthians 8-10; Romans 14; 15 for disputes about “meats offered to idols” and 1 Corinthians 1:22. for the Gnostic asceticism. Which God created (α ο τεος εκτισεν — ha ho theos ektisen). First active indicative of κτιζω — ktizō (Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1:16). Cf. 1 Corinthians 10:25. To be received “For reception.” Old word, only here in N.T. By them that believe and know (τοις πιστοις και επεγνωκοσι — tois pistois kai epegnōkosi). Dative case, “for the believers and those who (one article unites closely) have known fully” (perfect active participle of επιγινωσκω — epiginōskō), a Pauline use of the word (Colossians 1:6). [source]
1 Timothy 4:3 Which God created [α ο τεος εκτισεν]
First active indicative of κτιζω — ktizō (Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1:16). Cf. 1 Corinthians 10:25. [source]

What do the individual words in 1 Corinthians 1:16 mean?

I baptized now also the of Stephanas household as to the rest not I know whether any other
ἐβάπτισα δὲ καὶ τὸν Στεφανᾶ οἶκον λοιπὸν οὐκ οἶδα εἴ τινα ἄλλον

ἐβάπτισα  I  baptized 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: βαπτίζω  
Sense: to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk).
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
Στεφανᾶ  of  Stephanas 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Στεφανᾶς  
Sense: a Christian convert of Corinth.
οἶκον  household 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: οἶκος  
Sense: a house.
λοιπὸν  as  to  the  rest 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: λοιπός  
Sense: remaining, the rest.
οἶδα  I  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
εἴ  whether 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: εἰ  
Sense: if, whether.
τινα  any 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
ἄλλον  other 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄλλος  
Sense: another, other.

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