Baptismal Theology of the New Testament and Patristic Literature
Proxy baptisms are based on the conviction that the sacrament of baptism is necessary for salvation. Accordingly, we will look at the teachings of New Testament and patristic writers regarding the necessity of this sacred ordinance. These writers taught that baptism was essential for forgiveness of sins and for entrance into the church and into heaven. Indeed, according to Everett Ferguson in his highly respected study of early Christian liturgy, Christians through the first five centuries believed that baptism "effects salvation, forgiveness of sins, freedom from the rule of sin and death, purification, and washing." 9
Three main arguments from the New Testament support the essential nature of baptism. First, Christ himself is baptized, signifying the necessity for Christians to receive the same. Second, there are pivotal verses of scripture, such as John 3:5, Mark 16:14–16, and Matthew 28:19, which, according to some scholars, affirm the necessity of baptism for salvation. Third, throughout the book of Acts, baptism is without question the rite of initiation that all converts must undergo. According to Acts, this rite assures the convert a remission of sins and links them to Christ.
The synoptic Gospels all attest to the fact that Christ was baptized by John in order to "fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:13–17; cf. Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21). W. F. Albright and C. S. Mann explain Christ's baptism in relation to Matthew's goal of showing Christ's fulfillment of ancient scriptural prophecies. These scholars explain the term fulfill all righteousness as a reference to the "fulfillment of those Scriptures in which those demands are set out—law, prophets, writings. In any event, the baptism administered by John was a direct response to the will of God, and so the Messiah must submit to it." 10 Thus Christ's baptism, for Matthew, fulfilled both divine commands and ancient scripture (notably Isaiah 43:2 and Psalm 2:7). The Oxford Bible Commentary suggests that Matthew's account demonstrates this fulfillment of both commands and scripture by focusing on the apocalyptic vision that Christ receives upon baptism, in which God affirms Jesus as his Son and the Holy Ghost descends as a dove.11 A few Christian authors such as Hilary, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Chromatius, and Cyril of Alexandria declare Christ's baptism as the example for Christians to follow, that they may receive salvation and remission of sins.12 Although no New Testament text explicitly confirms the point, Jesus's baptism likely became the foundation for later Christian baptism.13
Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture: Volume - 19, Issue - 2, Pages: 22-49Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, 2010
Continue reading at: http://http://www.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/
Proxy baptisms are based on the conviction that the sacrament of baptism is necessary for salvation. Accordingly, we will look at the teachings of New Testament and patristic writers regarding the necessity of this sacred ordinance. These writers taught that baptism was essential for forgiveness of sins and for entrance into the church and into heaven. Indeed, according to Everett Ferguson in his highly respected study of early Christian liturgy, Christians through the first five centuries believed that baptism "effects salvation, forgiveness of sins, freedom from the rule of sin and death, purification, and washing." 9
Three main arguments from the New Testament support the essential nature of baptism. First, Christ himself is baptized, signifying the necessity for Christians to receive the same. Second, there are pivotal verses of scripture, such as John 3:5, Mark 16:14–16, and Matthew 28:19, which, according to some scholars, affirm the necessity of baptism for salvation. Third, throughout the book of Acts, baptism is without question the rite of initiation that all converts must undergo. According to Acts, this rite assures the convert a remission of sins and links them to Christ.
The synoptic Gospels all attest to the fact that Christ was baptized by John in order to "fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:13–17; cf. Mark 1:9; Luke 3:21). W. F. Albright and C. S. Mann explain Christ's baptism in relation to Matthew's goal of showing Christ's fulfillment of ancient scriptural prophecies. These scholars explain the term fulfill all righteousness as a reference to the "fulfillment of those Scriptures in which those demands are set out—law, prophets, writings. In any event, the baptism administered by John was a direct response to the will of God, and so the Messiah must submit to it." 10 Thus Christ's baptism, for Matthew, fulfilled both divine commands and ancient scripture (notably Isaiah 43:2 and Psalm 2:7). The Oxford Bible Commentary suggests that Matthew's account demonstrates this fulfillment of both commands and scripture by focusing on the apocalyptic vision that Christ receives upon baptism, in which God affirms Jesus as his Son and the Holy Ghost descends as a dove.11 A few Christian authors such as Hilary, Theodore of Mopsuestia, Chromatius, and Cyril of Alexandria declare Christ's baptism as the example for Christians to follow, that they may receive salvation and remission of sins.12 Although no New Testament text explicitly confirms the point, Jesus's baptism likely became the foundation for later Christian baptism.13
Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture: Volume - 19, Issue - 2, Pages: 22-49Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, 2010
Continue reading at: http://http://www.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/
