For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
Seems that Paul is not interested in performing hs priestly duties.
Let’s see here:
Paul often assumed that he was writing to those who were baptized:
Romans 6:3: Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
Colossians 2:12: and you were buried with him in baptism…
Seems that he approved of baptism, and was even baptized as we read in Acts 9:18. Paul’s followers were always baptized, but not many were baptized by him. So far we can see that he was in favor of baptism, but didn’t baptize many. Why?
1 Cor 1:12-15: “What I mean is that each one of you says, ‘I belong to Paul,’ or ‘I belong to Apollos,’ or ‘I belong to Cephas,’ or ‘I belong to Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name.”
Seems less like Paul was uninterested in performing his duties and more like Paul was trying to prevent becoming a cult of personality. As 1 Cor 1:31 states, “Therefore, as it is written, ‘Let him who boasts, boast of the Lord.’” I’m thinking he was concerned with becoming a new golden calf.
Here’s a hypothetical, a bishop and a team of priests went to an unknown territory to evangelize the population. The bishop would proclaim the Gospel while the priests were baptizing the converted. Would the bishop be neglecting his priestly duties?