LESSON THIRTEEN

2003-2004

BAPTISM

I. Introduction: Baptism and Catechesis

A. With infant Baptism the most commonly practiced form:

1. Must look at relationship to catechesis.

2. Catechesis: instruction in Christian doctrine.

3. Catechesis now commonly follows Baptism.

B. Can not forget in New Testament:

1. Rite first administered to adults.

2. Then to children who shared their faith and thus were baptized with them.

3. New Testament preserves the catechesis which preceded Baptism of adult converts.

C. Today vs. Earliest Church

1. There is no support for practice of some today in which only prerequisite for Baptism is a loosely defined profession of faith.

a. In apostolic church, the prerequisite faith was a fully formed faith.

b. “Fully formed faith” has no resemblance to “decisions for Christ”.

(1) Often are uninformed commitments.

(2) Frequently made under personal emotional stress or peer pressure.

c. Requires

(1) Confession that the crucified and resurrected Jesus is Lord or Christ.

(2) Confession of sins.

(3) Lk 24:44.

(4) Mt 12:5, 41-42.

2. First Jewish converts.

a. Several seemed knowledgeable about what “Christ” meant before identified Jesus with Him (e.g. Lk 2:26; cf Mt 12:21,31-32; 28:11-15).

b. Paul was already fully knowledgeable in Old Testament (Php 3:5.6).

c. Stephen: example of preaching as catechesis built upon faith of Israel (Ac 7).

d. Peter’s first sermons to Jews are probably condensed catechesis teaching that Jesus was the Christ (Ac 2:14-41; 3:12-26; 5:42)

e. Such summary catechesis led first converts.

(1) to Baptism.

(2) then to participation in church services centered in the didache (i.e. catechetical sermons).

(3) Then to receiving the Communion, called the breaking of the bread.

f. In earliest church, the Old Testament, which had served as the catechesis for Israel, continued to be used for that purpose.

(1) for some, the additional catechesis may not have been much longer than a few hours, after which Baptism was immediately administered.

(2) Gospel of Matthew may well be the earliest written form of the catechesis.

(3) Luke’s gospel may have been directed to Jews in the diaspora and to Gentiles.

3. Lutheran insistence that Word and Sacrament belong together.

a. Preserves early church view that catechesis leads to Baptism.

b. Baptism is where the catechumen meets Christ in His death and resurrection.

4. Early Gentile churches.

a. Consisted of people with virtually no knowledge of Old Testament.

b. Catechetical instruction could take years.

c. Paul may have stayed for longer time in Corinth and Ephesus to prepare them for Baptism.

II. Lutherans

A. Catechetical tradition out of New Testament reached classical formulation for Lutherans in Small Catechism.

1. Instruction must be related directly to Baptism by:

a. Bringing believers to Baptism, or

b. Confirming the faith given in Baptism.

2. Follows the apostolic model, namely

a. After repentance (the Ten Commandments).

b. The Gospel (the Apostles’ Creed) works faith.

c. Then taught the Lord’s Prayer.

d. Then receive Baptism, the gateway to participation in Lord’s Supper.

3. Unless catechesis understood within a sacramental context, faith in danger of being understood purely in intellectual terms.

B. Formal catechesis following infant Baptism.

1. Not a distortion of New Testament practice.

2. Continues Old Testament practice in which boys instructed in meaning of Passover after included in community by circumcision (Ex 12:25-27).

3. Baptized children received the catechesis which was given to their parents before their Baptism.

C. Has not been without problems.

1. Children of “practicing Christians” more likely to receive catechesis.

2. Has led some to refuse to children brought by grandparents or other relatives, and not by parents.

a. Due to lack of assurance that the faith given in baptism will be nurtured later.

b. Such refusal:

(1) Correctly sees that Baptism and catechesis form one unit.

(2) But, fails to recognize that Baptism is a complete work of God in and of itself.

(3) If connection was necessary, there would be no need for emergency Baptism.

(4) Determining the probability of a future catechesis is not an issue re: decision.

(5) There is no guarantee that preaching the Word will have positive results, either (Mt 13:1-23).

(6) Consider also the probability that children brought to Jesus were brought by relative or other members of household.