Paul says that he has not been called to baptize,
perhaps thereby indicating that he has not been called to remain in one place for long. He has been called to preach the gospel,
and it is the content of his preaching that he wants to focus his readers’ attention on.
When Paul says that he preaches not with words of eloquent wisdom,
he is not referring to his style of preaching, as if his preaching lacks elegance or intellectual depth. No, he is referring to the content of his preaching. His message does not resonate with the wisdom
of the world (compare 1 Corinthians 2:6). The message of the cross of Christ
does not fit in with the ideas that are commonly upheld in society.
17 Ce n'est pas pour baptiser que Christ m'a envoyé, c'est pour annoncer l'Evangile, et cela sans la sagesse du langage, afin que la croix de Christ ne soit pas rendue vaine.