Baptism
Baptism
Today, there are quite a variety of views on the subject of Christian baptism. Some say that it is simply a step of obedience for a saved Christian. Others say that it is an intrinsic part of the salvation process. Each side quotes proof texts to support its view. But what was the historic teaching of the church on this subject? What did the disciples of the apostles believe about baptism? Another question is how did the early Christians baptize? By immersion, by pouring, or by sprinkling?
We don't have to guess about these matters. The Christians of the 2nd and 3rd centuries have left us a multitude of writings that reveal exactly what they believed about baptism and how they practiced it. Why not find out for yourself what they believed and why they believed what they did.
Read for yourself a large representative sampling of what the early church taught about baptism in the Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs, which is also offered below.
