BAPTISM. The ekklesia welcomed into its fellowship all who accepted the proclamation of Jesus as the Messiah, repented and received water baptism. The practice of water baptism was carried over from the days of Jesus, but given a new significance. John had baptized in anticipation of the coming of the Kingdom, and the Fourth Gospel tells us that Jesus' disciples continued this practice (John 3:22; 4:1-2). Now that Jesus is recognized as the resurrected and exalted Lord, baptism becomes the outward sign of admission to the Christian fellowship, and believers are baptized "in the name of Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:38). No significant interval of time elapsed between believing in Christ and baptism. This evident from the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41), the baptism of the Samaritants (Acts 8:12), the baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:36-37), Cornelius (Acts 10:47-48), Saul (Acts 9:18), Lydia (Acts 16:14-15), etc.
The question of the baptism of infants cannot be settled on the basis of exegetical data in Acts but only on theological grounds. The promise in Acts 2:39 need not mean that children are to be baptized; the promise may mean no more than that the gospel is a blessing not only for the present generation but to their descendants as well -- not only to people in Jerusalem but also to those of distant lands -- and is analogous to "your sons and daughter" in Acts 2:17. The "children" are limited by the following phrase: "every one whom the Lord our God calls to him." The reference to baptism of households (Acts 11:14; 16:15. 31; 18:8) may refer to the "wife, children, servants and relatives living in the house," but they may equally well designate only those of mature age who confess their faith in Christ. It is difficult to believe that such passages mean the faith of the head of the household sufficed for his children any more than it did for his relatives and slaves. [1]
THE EUCHARIST. The unity of the body of Christ is illustrated by the Eucharist. "Because there is one loaf [artos -- bread], we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the same loaf" (I Cor. 10:17). Paul here uses the symbolism of a loaf of bread broken in pieces and distributed among the worshippers to illustrated the oneness of the individual members (see Didache 9:4). Unity must exist among the participants of the Eucharist because they have a prior unity with Christ. The drinking of the cup is participation in the blood of Christ, and the eating of the bread is participation in the body of Christ (I Cor. 10:16). Believers find their unity in Christ. The question of how realistically these words should be taken is widely debated. The cup and the bread are indeed a memorial of the death of Christ, and are used in memory of Jesus' death (I Cor. 11:25). But eating and drinking involve more than a memory of a past event; they also represent participation in the body and blood of Christ, and therefore participation in his body. However, the Eucharist mediates fellowhip with Christ in the same sense that the altar in the Old Testament economy mediated fellowship with God, and sacrifices to idols mediated fellowhip with demons (I Cor. 10:18-21). Some interpret these words in a very realistic, sacramental sense, others in a more symbolic, metaphorical sense. It is faith by which one is identified with Christ in his death and becomes a member of his body; partaking of the bread and cup constitutes an event in which faith apprehends Christ. [2]
To continue press here
[1] In writing this part of the paper, I have relied very heavily upon
George Eldon Ladd's book,
A Theology of the New Testament, pp. 349-350
[Grand Rapids, Michigan: Willian B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1974]
so that maybe I should put quotation marks around this part of the paper.
Thank you, Dr. Ladd.
[2] In writing this part of the paper, I have relied very heavily upon
George Eldon Ladd's book,
A Theology of the New Testament, p. 547
[Grand Rapids, Michigan: Willian B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1974]
so that maybe I should put quotation marks around this part of the paper.
Thank you, Dr. Ladd.