Baptism (AQA A-Level Religious Studies): Revision Notes

Baptism

Origins and meaning

Baptism derives from the Greek word baptizo, meaning "to dip" or "to dunk". Water rituals symbolising cleansing or membership appear in various religions. In Judaism, ritual washing occurs after contact with dead bodies and during priestly consecration. In Sikhism, the Amrit Sanchar ritual involves drinking sweetened water to join the Khalsa community.

Biblical foundations

Christianity's baptism practice traces back to Jesus' lifetime. Jesus, a practising Jew, travelled to the desert to see his cousin John, a wandering holy man. John preached that people needed baptism to cleanse themselves from sins and prepare for the Messiah's coming.

The Gospel of Mark describes Jesus' baptism:

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins... In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, 'Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased'. (Mark 1:4-11)

Development in early Christianity

Jesus' disciples baptised people when they became followers. In John's Gospel, Jesus tells a potential convert:

Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (John 3:5-6)

This suggests Jesus viewed baptism as both physical and spiritual.

After Jesus' death, Gospel writers recorded his instructions to continue baptism. Matthew's Gospel states:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. (Matthew 28:16-20)

Three Christian viewpoints on baptism

Christian practices regarding baptism vary significantly:

1. Orthodox Christians, Roman Catholics and some Church of England members: Baptism marks an irreversible spiritual change to a person's soul

2. Most Protestant Christians: Baptism symbolises public commitment to Christian faith

3. Some denominations (e.g. Quakers): Do not practise baptism at all, believing membership is shown through living a Christian life rather than through ritual

Baptism in the Catholic tradition

Key terms

Sacrament: A ceremony seen as imparting spiritual grace. The Roman Catholic Church recognises seven sacraments: baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, penance, anointing of the sick, ordination, and matrimony.

Paedobaptism: Infant baptism.

Catechism: Teaching about Christian principles, given in question and answer style.

Theological understanding

Orthodox Churches, the Roman Catholic Church and parts of the Church of England share a broadly catholic understanding of baptism. For them, baptism is a mystery (Orthodox) or sacrament (Roman Catholic and Church of England). Through God's grace, the simple act of using water in a cleansing ritual makes a profound and irreversible change to the person's spiritual existence.

Original sin doctrine

Roman Catholic Christians believe all human beings inherit the stain of original sin through reproduction from Adam and Eve. Even new-born babies, who have done nothing sinful themselves, carry this inherited taint. The only way to free someone from original sin is to link them with Jesus Christ, whose death on the cross overcame its consequences. This happens through baptism, which re-enacts death and resurrection and brings membership into the Church's spiritual community.

Infant baptism practice

Roman Catholics normally practise infant baptism (paedobaptism). Through formal ritual linking the child with Christ, the infant's soul is washed clean of original sin.

Key parts of the ritual:

• The priest makes the sign of the cross on the child's forehead, symbolising that the child belongs to Christ

• Parents and godparents reject evil and sin on behalf of the child and make a declaration of faith in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, formally accepting the terms of Church membership

• The person performing the baptism asks God to make the water holy through the Holy Spirit, so the infant will be "born of water and the Spirit"

• The baby is immersed three times in water or has water poured over its head three times whilst the baptiser says: "I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." This symbolises both washing away sin and death (going under water) and resurrection (coming out of water)

• The baby is anointed with perfumed oil consecrated by the bishop, symbolising the gift of the Holy Spirit and Church membership

• The child receives a candle lit from the Easter candle, symbolising death to sin and rising to new life with Christ

• The child may be dressed in new white clothes as a sign of new life free from sin

Confirmation

Baptism should be followed by education (catechism) as the child develops. When old enough to understand baptism's real meaning and Christian living, the child takes responsibility for baptism promises through confirmation, confirming the promises made at baptism.

Emergency baptism

In emergencies (e.g. if a new-born baby is very ill), anyone who understands baptism can perform it using any water, saying "I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" whilst wetting the baby's head.

Baptism in the Baptist tradition

Key terms

Ordinances: Direct instructions from Jesus, such as the instruction to his disciples to make disciples and baptise them. Also means religious ceremonies, sacraments or regulations.

Credobaptism: Believer's baptism.

Theological understanding

The Baptist Church emerged from the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation. Baptists do not believe in sacraments. They believe Christians should read the Bible to learn about Christ's life, then copy what Jesus did to live according to God's plan.

Baptists take Jesus' instruction seriously: "Make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 28:19). They call direct instructions from Jesus "ordinances", making baptism an ordinance requiring serious attention.

Believer's baptism practice

Baptists practise adult baptism because Jesus was already an adult when John baptised him. They do not believe in original sin, so see no need to wash it away early in life. Instead, baptism is a ceremony of membership and commitment when someone prepares to start their adult ministry. This is called "believer's baptism" or credobaptism.

Baptism can only be meaningful when those being baptised fully know and understand what they are committing to. During preparation, candidates:

• Join Bible study groups
• Learn about Christian faith as understood by the Baptist Church
• Spend extra time in study and prayer with an experienced church member who acts as sponsor

Key parts of the ritual:

• A sponsor (existing church member who knows the candidate) presents the person to the church community

• The person being baptised gives a testimony - a short speech outlining how they believe God has been working in their life (may be biographical or describe a single event leading them to accept Jesus as Lord)

• The candidate enters the baptismal pool (usually fully clothed) and confirms they turn from sin and accept Jesus Christ as saviour

• The minister says "I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" and pushes the candidate backwards and down right under the water, then pulls them up again

• There may be clapping or cheering as the newly baptised Christian climbs out, dries off and joins the congregation

Full membership

After baptism, people become full members of the Baptist Church with rights and responsibilities. They continue Bible study and worship, but also help with church chores, work with young people, or take part in evangelism activities. They have a say in congregational decisions and minister appointments.

Infant dedication

Baptists never baptise infants or young children, but welcome them into the church community shortly after birth through a brief ceremony called "infant dedication" or "infant presentation" during a Sunday service.

Arguments in favour of infant baptism

1. Baptism as a sacrament

Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians and some Church of England members see baptism as a sacrament - something God does to the individual's soul through water and words. Those being baptised need not do anything because the key effect (the change to their soul) depends on God's grace, not their actions. Even a new-born baby can therefore receive baptism's grace.

2. Baptism as a mystery

For Christians in Catholic traditions, baptism depends on God's grace, not human understanding. Human beings cannot fully understand God because God is too mighty and divine for human minds to grasp. Therefore, anything God does cannot be fully understood by any human - child or adult. God's grace is always a mystery. If humans had to wait until they fully understood God before baptism, no-one would ever be baptised. Anyone can therefore be baptised regardless of understanding, meaning even new babies can be baptised.

3. Baptism as the remedy for original sin

Roman Catholics believe all humans are created with original sin's stain, inherited throughout history because of the break with God caused by Adam and Eve's sin. Most Catholics do not believe in literal Adam and Eve but see this as explaining humanity's tendency to disobey what they know God wants. Through baptism, humans are freed from original sin's taint so they can rise and live forever with God after bodily death. Babies need cleansing from original sin in case they die before being old enough to profess faith themselves.

4. Baptism as the start of Christian life

By baptising infants and giving parents and godparents responsibility to raise them as Christians, the Church ensures children will be brought up as Church community members. The intention is that they will learn to distinguish right from wrong and how to live a Christian life following Jesus' teachings. They will attend church regularly and learn Church teachings, preparing them to confirm their baptismal commitment through adult confirmation.

5. Jesus' teaching about children

Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, 'Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God'. (Luke 18:15-16)

This story about Jesus justifies baptising babies. If Jesus was happy for mothers to bring infants for blessing, the Church should welcome babies for baptism similarly.

6. Baptism in the Early Church

The Early Church seems to have practised infant baptism. The book of Acts includes several accounts where whole households were baptised together. These households quite likely included children and infants. If it was acceptable to the Early Church, it is acceptable today.

Arguments against infant baptism

1. Baptism as an ordinance

Jesus told disciples to make disciples and baptise them. A baby cannot possibly be a disciple because babies are too young to learn about and understand Christian faith. To follow Jesus' command, the Church should support families and help educate children in Christian faith. They should welcome children to services and provide Sunday schools for Bible learning. Adults in the community should set good examples of Christian living. By doing these things, the church community can "make disciples" of young people as they grow, so when old enough, they can be baptised and join the church community as adult members.

2. Baptism as following the example of Jesus

Jesus was probably around 30 when baptised. Christians wanting to follow in his footsteps as disciples aim to imitate what Jesus did. By the time Jesus went to see John the Baptist, he had been raised with good understanding of his faith and had built up a personal relationship with God. His baptism therefore came after his learning period and at the start of his adult work. Christians should follow this model by studying and building a relationship with God first, then making faith commitment through baptism when ready to begin their adult community role. Babies and children cannot make such commitment.

3. Baptism as a washing away of sins

Baptists do not believe in original sin but recognise people behave sinfully. It is natural that children and young people do things against God's wishes, and only when adult enough to regret committed sins can Christians undertake baptism to wash away sins. For baptism to be meaningful, people must be mature enough to truly understand sin and able to make free choice to live avoiding sin. Babies and children cannot do these things.

4. Everyone is included in God's grace

From the moment any baby is born, it receives God's grace in all life aspects. A baby is part of the Christian community through its bond with parents. New babies are welcomed into church, and the whole church shares responsibility for raising them with Christian beliefs and values, supporting parents and setting good Christian living examples. No baby or child is excluded. However, the child cannot fully understand how to approach God in faith until mature enough to understand the Bible and choose to live a life of faith. Therefore, it is wrong to suggest baptism is the start of Christian life, making infant baptism unnecessary.

5. Jesus' teaching about children

Baptists believe all children are welcome in church and can share in everything the church does as far as they are able. They can receive Holy Communion if parents think they are ready. However, Jesus did not baptise the infants mothers brought to him and did not instruct disciples to baptise babies.

6. Baptism in the Early Church

The book of Acts never specifically describes a child or infant's baptism. It is only an assumption that children and babies were baptised when whole households were. Acts more likely refers to household adults. Descriptions of specific baptisms always refer to adults (e.g. Phillip baptising the Ethiopian in Acts 8:26-40), and before baptism, there is always some teaching about Christian belief. Therefore, infant baptism was not Early Church practice and should not be Church practice now.