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The Baptismal Formula: Difference between revisions
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=The Historical Record of the Church= | =The Historical Record of the Church= | ||
==The Didache== | |||
The '''Didache''' or '''The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles''' (''Didachē'' means "Teaching" in Greek) is a brief early Christian treatise, dated by most scholars to the late first or early 2nd century.<ref name=Draper2006>The Apostolic Fathers: The Didache, 2006, Draper, J. A., ''The Expository Times, Vol. 117, No.5, pp.177–81</ref> Some even date it as contemporary with the books of the New Testament (c. A.D.40-60).<ref name=Robinson1976>John A. T. Robinson, ''Redating the New Testament'' (SCM Press 1976)</ref> | |||
However, because of references in literature from the early 4th century, no scholars date the Didache as later than the 3rd century, which is prior to the Nicene Council. | |||
With respect to water baptism, the Didache states: | |||
:''And concerning baptism, thus baptize ye: Having first said all these things, baptize into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit... | |||
==Church Fathers== | |||
Baptism has been in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit at least from the end of the 1st century. Some passages in Acts (2:38, 10:48, and 19:5) speak of Baptism ‘in the name of (the Lord) Jesus (Christ)’, but whether this formula was ever used has been questioned.<ref>F. L. Cross and Elizabeth A. Livingstone, eds., The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church (Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press, 2005), 151.</ref> | |||
But what is the proof behind this statement? | |||
===Justin Martyr (ca. 100–ca. 165 AD)=== | |||
''JUSTIN, the Martyr, having spoken of the preparations of the applicants for baptism, adds: “they are then conducted by us to a place where there is water, and they are regenerated, after the same mode of regeneration, wherein we ourselves were regenerated, for they then are washed in the water, in the name of the Father and Lord God of all, and of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Ghost.<ref>Basil of Caesarea, A Treatise on Baptism and A Treatise on Confirmation, trans. Francis Patrick Kenrick (Philadelphia: M. Fithian, 1843), 107.</ref> | |||
''There is pronounced over him who chooses to be born again, and has repented of his sins, the name of God the Father and Lord of the universe; he who leads to the laver the person that is to be washed, calling him by his name alone. For no one can utter the name of the ineffable God; and if any one dare to say that there is a name, he raves with a hopeless madness. And this washing is called illumination, because they who learn these things are illuminated in their understandings. And in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and in the name of the Holy Ghost, who through the prophets foretold all things about Jesus, he who is illuminated is washed.”<ref>Wri. of Justin, pp. 59, 60. Clark’s Edi. as quoted in R. Ingham, A Handbook of Christian Baptism: Subjects, vol. II (London: E. Stock, 1871), 429.R. Ingham, A Handbook of Christian Baptism: Subjects, vol. II (London: E. Stock, 1871), 429.</ref> | |||
===Tertullian=== | |||
"After his resurrection he promises in a pledge to his disciples that he will send them the promise of his Father; and lastly, he commands them to baptize into the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, not into a unipersonal God. And indeed it is not once only, but three times, that we are immersed into the three persons, at each several mention of their names" (Against Praxeas 26 - A.D. 216). | |||
===Origen=== | |||
"The Lord himself told his disciples that '''they should baptize all peoples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit''' . . . for indeed, '''legitimate baptism is had only in the name of the Trinity'''" (Commentary on Romans 5:8 - A.D. 248). | |||
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