1Cor 1:17 | TNotes | STEP | 1:17 The important thing is not baptism, but the preaching of the Good News ; baptism signifies people’s response to the message. • clever speech: Eloquence, or an appeal to human wisdom. • for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power: Too much emphasis on eloquence and the persuasiveness of human reason can distract from the simple message that Christ died for people’s sins so that they could be forgiven (1 Cor 2:1-5 ; 15:1-3 ).

b1 Cor 2:1-5►

c15:1-3►

‏ 1 Corinthians 1:17

1:17 ^a The important thing is not baptism, but the preaching of the Good News; baptism signifies people’s response to the message.

• clever speech: Eloquence, or an appeal to human wisdom.

• for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power: Too much emphasis on eloquence and the persuasiveness of human reason can distract from the simple message that Christ died for people’s sins so that they could be forgiven (1 Cor 2:1-5 ^b; 15:1-3 ^c).