Theology Systematic and Historical Ecclesiology Ordinances Baptism Part

Theology Systematic and Historical Ecclesiology, Ordinances, Baptism Part 01 Bruce R. Marino Coutances Cathedral Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Coutances 1210 to 1274

Systematic & Historical Ecclesiology: Baptism • Terminology: baptisma, Greek: from washing dishes to baptizing believers. • The Institution. • Pagan precursors: Many cultures practice ritual washings / lustrations, eg: mystery religions. • Jewish & OT precursors: Converts to Judaism were baptized. Ritual cleansing in Qumran. • John the Baptist: Repentance in preparation for the Kingdom: Mal 3: 1; 4: 5 -6; Matt 3: 1 -12; Mark 1: 2 -8; Luke 3: 2 -17; John 1: 19 -36. Not Christian baptism: Acts 10: 37; Acts 13: 24; Acts 18: 25; Acts 19. 3 -5. • Christian baptism. • Commanded by Christ: Matt 28: 18 -19 a cf Mark 16: 15 -16. • Followed in the NT: Acts 2: 41; 8: 12, 38; 9: 18; 10: 48; 16: 15, 33; 18: 8. • NT Church baptized people in close connection with repentance & faith, probably soon after salvation. "The idea of an unbaptized Christian is simply not entertained in the NT" (FF Bruce, Commentary on the Book of Acts 77). Note Peter: "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ" Acts 2: 38.

Systematic & Historical Ecclesiology: Baptism • Significance. • Exodus: Red Sea: 1 Cor 10: 1 -2: • Christ in the OT. • Covenant. • Connection with OT believers. • Circumcision: Col 2: 11 -12, indicating. • Covenant. • Burial in Christ. • Putting off of sins. • Resurrection. • Flood: 1 Pet 3: 19 -21, indicating: connection with OT, Salvation, change of relationship. • One is baptized "into" the name of the Lord Jesus, Acts 2: 38; 8: 16; 19: 3 -5. • Death, burial, and resurrection: Rom 6: 3 -5; Col 2: 12; 1 Pet 3: 21. • Cleansing. • Efficacy.

Systematic & Historical Ecclesiology: Baptism: Positions • Baptismal Regeneration, Sacramental View, , Baptism as Saving Operation. Necessary for salvation. RC: it either awakens or strengthens faith and/or washes sins away in regeneration. Lutherans some faith must already be present. Traditional RC: unbaptized children are consigned to the limbus infantium, separated from the "beatific vision”. • Baptism as Sign & Seal of the Covenant. As preaching uses the ear baptism uses the eye. The believer is reminded throughout their life. Mode is less important. • Believers Baptism, Baptism as a Token of Salvation. It is in response to what has happened in the believer. Symbol & public testimony within and without the Church. No supernatural benefit except by obedience. It moves the heart. Christ instituted baptism Matt 28. 19 -20 & it is better called an ordinance than a rite.

Systematic & Historical Ecclesiology: Baptism, Support • Matt 2: 1 -10; Mark 1: 2 -6; Luke 3: 3 -14: John the Baptist, not Christian • Matt 18: 6 cf Matt 19: 14; Mark 10: 14: Luke 18: 16 -17: “Little ones” may be spiritual given the context. • Matt 18: 6 cf Matt 19: 14; Mark 10: 14: Luke 18: 16 -17: Children brought to Jesus were touched, not baptized. • Matt 27: 35 -44; Mark 15: 24 -32; Luke 23: 33 -43: Although some believe the water from Jesus’ side splashed on the thief on the cross baptizing him, this is improbable. In all events, this is still OT. • Matt 28: 19: "Disciple all nations, baptizing them“ suggesting teaching precedes baptism hence, believers. • Matt 28: 19 -20; Mark 1: 15; Mark 16: 9 -20; Acts 2: 38, 41; 8: 12 -13; 9: 18; 16: 14 -15; perhaps 9: 1 -7; Gal 3: 26 -27: indicate repentance & faith precede baptism, hence, believers. • Luke 1: 15: John the Baptist: Jesus would be "filled with the Holy Spirit from His mothers womb. Clearly an unusual case. • John 3: 5: "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom”: probably not baptism especially since this precedes Christian baptism. Note: the Rabbis used “water” as a euphemism for sperm suggesting the physical/spiritual duality of the passage.

Systematic & Historical Ecclesiology: Baptism, Support • Acts 2: 37 -38: "Repent, and be baptized, each of you in the name of Jesus Christ to forgiveness of sins. and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit“: Peter also makes no provision for infants. Suggesting believer’s baptism. • Acts 8: 12: In Samaria only men & women were baptized. • Acts 15. 9: Faith not baptism removes sin. • Acts: 22. 16: "Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name“ suggesting believer’s baptism. • Rom 6: 3 -5 cf 1 -11: being buried in baptism. • Titus 3: 5: "Washing of regeneration“: This need not require baptismal regeneration. • 1 Pet 3. 21: "Baptism, which corresponds to this [Noah's flood] now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ“: Cleary the meaning of baptism is a metaphor. • 1 John 2. 13: "I write you, children, because you know the Father“: Adults are in view or they could not have been “written” to.

Theology Systematic and Historical Ecclesiology, Ordinances, Baptism Part 02 Bruce R. Marino Coutances Cathedral Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Coutances 1210 to 1274

Systematic & Historical Ecclesiology: Baptism • Recipient / Candidate / Subject. • Ought children be baptized / infant or paedo-baptism. • In favor of child baptism are the RC (based on a sacramental view of salvation) & the Reformed (based on a Calvinist view of salvation). This has been covered under Efficacy, above. • Administrator. • When a church superior is available, the Biblical understanding of the organization of the Church, requires that leader be consulted & submitted to. • Though administered by an intermediary, The Spirit is the real baptizer, 1 Cor 12. 13. • Frequency. • There is no evidence in the NT for rebaptism. • Confession is recommended for sins after salvation, not rebaptism.

Systematic & Historical Ecclesiology: Baptism • Formula. • Basically Trinitarian: Matt 28: 19. • Note "the Jesus Only" or "New Issue" that effectively denied the Trinity • That there are 2 baptismal "formulae" argues for the ontological Trinity. If the Bible is consistent, then there is no contradiction. • Hence "Jesus" can be "short hand" for the full Trinitarian formula. • The locus classicus is Matt 28: 19, note: • "Name" onoma carries the idea of "in the authority of" (Robertson 649) • It involves the initiating of relationship (Turner 255). • Eis with accusative, "in", is best rendered into, cf 1, 700 times in the NT with only a few exceptions (Dana & Mantey eis). • Baptism & teaching both articulate the manner in which disciples are made (Robertson 1128). • Matheteusate "making disciples" is active: "make disciples of" (Blass Debrunner 148; cf Howard 400).

Systematic & Historical Ecclesiology: Baptism: Mode • 2 basic modes: Sprinkling/Pouring/Effusion & Immersion. Also forward/backward, etc. • Pro Effusion. • Sufficient personnel, time, water? : John the Baptist? Pentecost? Did the Philippian Jailer leave his post? Cornelius' household. Did Ananias move Paul? • It is sufficient for the symbolism of purification, death being a minor element. • Varied OT forms of purification: immersion, pouring, sprinkling would each have been adequate.

Systematic & Historical Ecclesiology: Baptism: Mode • Pro immersion. • Baptizo generally means to immerse. • There is not teaching or example of effusion. • Mass baptism could have easily been employed. • The Philippian Jailer story may not include details or a cistern, etc. may have been handy. • Death and resurrection are important symbols in baptism. Burial symbolized in baptism suggests immersion: Rom 6. 4; Col 2. 12. • Heb 6. 2 most probably refers to Jewish rites. • Much water was needed: The Ethiopian Eunuch’s observation Acts 8. 36. Because there was much water there John 3. 23. . Administrator & candidate enter the water, Acts 8. 38. Coming up out of water, Matt 3. 16; Acts 8. 39. • Alternative forms arise in Church history. • “Baptisms" & "various washings [or baptisms]", diaphorois baptismois Heb 6. 2; 9. 10 suggests many means. Immersion seems best but others should be employed if necessary.

Systematic & Historical Ecclesiology: Baptism, Etc. • One is baptized "into" the name of the Lord Jesus, Acts 2. 38; 8. 16. • Penitents call upon the Lord’s name Acts, 22. 16. • A public confession of the lordship of Jesus Christ, cf Rom 10. 9 -10. • Instruction prior to baptism may be implied in the sequencing of Jesus' great commission, Matt 28. 19. • The ancient Church often fasted prior to baptism, see Didache, Justin Martyr 155 First Apology. • Later history. • Virtually all Christian groups throughout history have practiced baptism as an initiatory rite finding their support in Matt 28. 19. • In the early Church, baptism was seen as remitting only those sins which preceded it & so was postponed until near death. • Some replace water baptism with fire or Spirit baptism Matt 3. 11.