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Pilgrim said:
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xyz said:
The first of these is a general command, but does not mention water;
Then pray tell, what was the medium to be used by the disciples to baptize those who came to faith since they were incapable of baptizing them with the Holy Spirit
The word matheeteúsate means 'make disciples by teaching'. That is how rabbis made disciples for themselves, but here conversion was to be on behalf of, in the name of, the deity, Father, Son and Spirit, no less. It is gospel teaching that baptizes 'with fire', i.e. spiritually, not by physical means. The context is one of authority, Jesus having been given 'all power in heaven and on earth'.

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xyz then said:
the next two are not general commands;
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The second one is indisputably a command. But you evidently don't see the preaching of Peter to be paradigmatic? Thus neither the content of his message (repent and believe upon Christ) and then to be "baptized for the remission of sins" is to be done today? <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/shrug.gif" alt="" />
By being baptized in water, the converts were 'pinning their colors to the mast', making open declaration of allegiance to their Master. Today, water baptizm signifies very little- but public personal oral testimony of what Jesus has done for individuals does signify, though. That is used by some as the practical indication of conversion before men (along with personal fruits)- while not prohibiting water baptizm, the practise of which is a personal decision.

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lastly xyz said:
the last is not command. The fact that Paul baptized so remarkably few is indication of his own view of its importance.
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CONTEXT, CONTEXT, CONTEXT . . . how that idea is so easily dismissed by many today. [Linked Image] The text makes clear that ALL the saints he was addressing were, in fact, baptized albeit by others and not Paul himself with the exceptions mentioned. The point he was addressing was the tendency of some to follow after a man (idolatry) and not after Christ alone.
That is his main point, agreed, but in reinforcing it, he indicates that water baptizm, even though likely to be commonly practised, is not a principle concern of his. Paul became 'father' to the Corinthians through the gospel, i.e. he 'baptized' them in the Holy Spirit, yet he baptized only a few of them in water.