Verse Lens · Concise explanation
1 Corinthians 1:15 Explained in Context
Use this verse as a doorway into the larger passage—not as an isolated saying.
Verse 15. 15Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.
King James Version — public domain in the United States · Bible text and permissions
Quick Meaning
This verse names Crispus and Gaius as limited exceptions.
Read It With
- 1 Corinthians 1:10–17
Read 1 Corinthians 1:15 with 1:10–17. This verse names Crispus and Gaius as limited exceptions. The complete unit establishes: Responding to Chloe's household, Paul rejects rival leader slogans because Christ is not divided, no leader was crucified for them, and baptism did not place them under a human name; his commission centers the gospel and an unemptied cross.
Why This Verse Appears Here
The first reported crisis tests whether gifted people understand that all leaders and rites remain subordinate to the one crucified Christ. At 1:15, the distinct clause is “Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name.”
Phrase-by-Phrase Explanation
“Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name”
In plain language: This is the verse's opening clause in the pinned KJV.
It contributes specifically to The Cross, Not Leader Branding, Defines the Baptized inside 1 Corinthians 1:10–17.
Why it matters: The wording identifies this verse's distinct contribution without requiring an independent extended treatment.
How certain? probableWhat Remains True
At 1 Corinthians 1:15, No leader, rite, or rhetorical style may replace the crucified Christ as the community's identity.
How It Can Shape Life
- For 1 Corinthians 1:15, Name factional incentives, protect responsible reporters, and rebuild shared judgment around Christ rather than personalities.
Continue in Context
The full thought-unit study remains the final contextual authority for this Verse Lens.
Read 1 Corinthians 1:10–17 — The Cross, Not Leader Branding, Defines the BaptizedSources used for this Verse Lens
How certain is this explanation? strong
These are the sources used directly for this lens. Language, grammar, disagreements, and the complete source shelf remain attached to the full thought-unit research record.
Biblical text
King James (Authorized) Version — eng-kjv2006
eBible.org and CrossWire Bible Society
USFM archive eng-kjv2006_usfm.zip; source files dated 2026-08-19; downloaded 2026-08-24; archive SHA-256 aec1b3b26c622fd3d963d2bbac963016b9513246ffbfa20da00bb100372ea007; normalized corpus SHA-256 09aef51d90488aa7b9722b3fd9a93f4b25f6bf2064c5fd798fb39673c300ddf2.
Supports: Exact reader-facing Scripture wording, paragraph markers, supplied-word markup, and complete verse coverage.
Exact location: 1 Corinthians 1:10–17, pinned eng-kjv2006 USFM corpus
Open source ↗Greek textual evidence
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition
Michael W. Holmes, editor; Society of Biblical Literature and Logos
Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software, 2010
Supports: Greek wording, clause relationships, repeated terms, and original-language discussion.
Exact location: SBLGNT official text file 1Cor.txt, 1:10–17
Open the 1 Corinthians Greek text file ↗Translation and textual notes
NET Bible - 1 Corinthians with translators' and textual notes
Biblical Studies Press
Biblical Studies Press, 2005-2026 online edition
Supports: Verse-level syntax, KJV-era wording, textual variants, and interpretive alternatives.
Exact location: NET Bible 1 Corinthians 1:10–17 print view with translator, study, and textual notes
Open the official NET 1 Corinthians PDF