Question 82 · The Holy Spirit and gifts

What does the Spirit do in baptism?

What the sources show

Tertullian c. 203 · Cyprian of Carthage c. 256With the hands

In the West about 200, the water was said to cleanse and prepare, and the Spirit to be given by the bishop's laying on of hands at the same rite (Tertullian, Cyprian). ¹²³

Cyril of Jerusalem c. 350 · Assemblies of God 1916

In the East the Spirit's gift is joined to the water itself, sealed at once with chrism (Cyril). Pentecostals speak of a distinct, later baptism in the Spirit. ⁴⁵

The answers given:

ApostolicBefore NicaeaNicaea and afterMiddle AgesReformation to today

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Before Nicaea

150–325

203c. AD

With the hands

Tertullian c. 155–c. 220 ADOn Baptism 6.1

Not that we receive the Holy Spirit in the waters, but cleansed in the water under the angel we are prepared for the Holy Spirit. Here too a figure went before: John was the Lord's forerunner, preparing his ways.

For Tertullian the water cleanses and the laying on of hands that follows gives the Spirit (chapter 8).

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203c. AD

With the hands

Tertullian c. 155–c. 220 ADOn Baptism 8.1

Then a hand is laid on us in blessing, calling and inviting the Holy Spirit.

Same rite, same day: water, anointing, hands.

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256c. AD

With the hands

Cyprian of Carthage c. 200–258 ADLetter 73, to Jubaianus 73.9

Those baptized in the Church are brought to the leaders of the Church, and by our prayer and laying on of hands they receive the Holy Spirit and are made complete with the Lord's seal.

Cyprian also says that baptism outside the Church cannot give the Spirit (73.6).

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Nicaea to Chalcedon

325–451

350c. AD

Given in baptism

Cyril of Jerusalem c. 313–386 ADMystagogic Catecheses 2.6

We know well that just as it cleanses from sins and brings the gift of the Holy Spirit, so it is also the copy of Christ's sufferings.

In the East the gift of the Spirit is spoken of with the water and sealed at once with chrism.

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Modern churches

1700–today

1916AD

A later experience

Assemblies of GodStatement of Fundamental Truths Article 7

This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth.

Pentecostals teach a baptism in the Spirit distinct from and after new birth.

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Witnesses not in the library yet

These writers also matter for this question. Their texts will join the timeline above once they are translated.

370
Didymus the Blind, On the Holy Spirit
The Spirit's work in baptism. In Jerome's Latin.
1766
John Wesley and the Holiness movement, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection
The "second blessing" behind later Pentecostal teaching.

How this page was made

Every early quote was read in its Greek or Latin and translated for this page by Claude (Opus 5.5) on 13 October 2026. Each line names the printed edition it was read from. A quote marked indirect does not state the answer outright; read its note. A writer's silence is never counted as an answer.