Abstract
Irrevocably singular: Baptism as a symbol of unity in the church. In this article I conduct a phenomenological analysis of the concept ‘one baptism’ in Ephesians 4:4−6. Such an analysis seeks to reveal the essence of a particular concept by bracketing out the theological and ideological presuppositions usually associated with it. The essential concept is then expanded by linking it to the terms most closely surrounding it in the text. A critical theological reflection on the expanded concept shows that ‘one baptism’ refers to an event by which believers are inducted, once and for all, into the church as the one body of the one Lord, Jesus Christ. The church exists through the presence of the one Spirit who binds believers in an unbreakable bond of love to God and to each other. Because baptism can never be undone or repeated, any liturgical act depicted as a ‘re-baptism’ is, by definition, impossible. This means that churches that baptise the children of believing parents are able to accommodate requests from people who, having been baptised as an infant, in later life wish to celebrate and testify to some significant milestone in their spiritual journey by means of an official church ritual. Such ritualised testimonies, however, refer to the existential lifeworld of believers (their repentance, confession of faith etc.) and are distinct from baptism that refers to the singular eschatological work of Christ and thus cannot be repeated. The church should, however, take pastoral care to ensure that people do not substitute their own spiritual experiences for the reality of salvation that is founded on the singular act of God, for us once and for all in Christ, to which baptism irrevocably refers.
Highlights
Read online: Scan this QR code with your smart phone or mobile device to read online
In this article I conduct a phenomenological analysis of the concept ‘one baptism’ in Ephesians 4:4−6
The church exists through the presence of the one Spirit who binds believers in an unbreakable bond of love to God and to each other
Summary
Because baptism can never be undone or repeated, any liturgical act depicted as a ‘re-baptism’ is, by definition, impossible This means that churches that baptise the children of believing parents are able to accommodate requests from people who, having been baptised as an infant, in later life wish to celebrate and testify to some significant milestone in their spiritual journey by means of an official church ritual. In die praktyk dwing die behoefte aan ’n rituele erkenning van ’n volwasse eksistensiële geloofsbelewenis die kerk om teologies te besin oor hoe die kerklike praktyk om mense te ‘herdoop’ geëvalueer moet word vanuit die teologiese grondstelling dat daar net een doop is. Dit impliseer dat die praktyk waarvolgens mense hulle geloof of bekering simbolies liturgies deur onderdompeling wil bely geakkommodeer kan word binne kerke wat die doop aan kinders van gelowige ouers bedien aangesien sodanige aksie nie as ’n nuwe doop kwalifiseer nie. Daar moet egter steeds pastorale aandag aan enige sodanige versoek gegee word om te verseker dat die Christologiessoteriologiese grondslag van die doop nie verruil word vir ’n antropologiese grondslag nie
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
