Was Paul A Slipshod Apostle?

The Catholic Church teaches that baptism is necessary for salvation. In fact, she claims to know of no other way by which one might be assured entry into "eternal beatitude," which is a Catholic way of describing eternal life spent in Heaven.

1257. The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation.[Cf. Jn 3:5 .] He also commands his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them.[Cf. Mt 28:19-20; cf. Council of Trent (1547) DS 1618; LG 14; AG 5.] Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.[Cf. Mk 16:16 .] The Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are 'reborn of water and the Spirit.' God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.—Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), 2nd Edition, © 1994/1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.,

According to RCC doctrine, it was God Himself who made baptism necessary for salvation. And how did she reach this conclusion? By eisegesis of John 3:5 and Matthew 28:19-20; and by appeal to Mark 16:16, which is part of a longer passage that is not included in some of the older manuscripts. I have discussed the Magisterium's imaginative interpretation of Scripture in other posts; there is no need to address that issue in this post. Instead, it is my intention to examine the evangelistic labors of the Apostle Paul in the light of Catholic doctrine.

The Catechism informs that:

Baptism is necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament.—Ibid.

Of course, Catholicism has come up with ways for folks who have not been baptized in water to be saved. There is the baptism of blood and the fanciful baptism of desire, for those who have heard the Gospel but who have not been baptized. Mother Church has even invented ways for people who have not heard the Gospel, who have not even heard of Jesus Christ, to be saved. In fact, Catholicism has determined that even some who reject the Gospel and the divinity of Christ, such as Muslims, can be saved.

Considering the Catholic teaching that "The Lord himself affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation," the apparent attitude of Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, concerning baptism is shocking.

And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.--1 Corinthians 1:16-18

If God made baptism a requirement for salvation, does it not seem strange that Paul would be so careless concerning whether people were baptized? Rather than stressing baptism, he placed great importance on preaching the Gospel. Could it be that Peter, the first pope according to the Catholic Church, had not instructed him as to the regenerative importance of baptism? Of course it could be that Paul wrote his first letter to the church at Corinth sometime after he received a preliminary orientation in Christian doctrine from God Himself but before "Pope" Peter fleshed out the details.

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.-- Acts 8:34-38