Salvation

Baptism and New Birth

13 passages, 4 quoted here · Broad agreement in this library

Baptism brings forgiveness and a new birth to those who freely come to faith.

Where they stood

Each row is one claim. Each name is a writer, placed at the date of the passage. Select a name to read what they said.

4 of the 4 writers here teach: “Baptism is regeneration and illumination.”

teaches it partly rejects it later writer, summary only

Baptism is regeneration and illumination4 teach

Instruction and faith come before the washing1 teach

What each writer said, earliest first

Barnabas Teaches: Baptism is regeneration and illumination

fl. c. 100 AD · Epistle 11.8, 11

See how he set the water and the cross together. For this is what he means: blessed are those who hoped in the cross and went down into the water.

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Greek

αἰσθάνεσθε, πῶς τὸ ὕδωρ καὶ τὸν σταυρὸν ἐπὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ὥρισεν. τοῦτο γὰρ λέγει: μακάριοι οἳ ἐπὶ τὸν σταυρὸν ἐλπίσαντες κατέβησαν εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ.

Hermas Teaches: Baptism is regeneration and illumination

fl. c. 140 AD · Shepherd, Parable 9.16

For before a person bears the name of the Son of God, he says, that person is dead; but when he receives the seal, he puts away the deadness and takes up life. The seal, then, is the water: into the water the dead go down, and they come up living.

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Greek

πρὶν γάρ, φησί, φορέσαι τὸν ἄνθρωπον τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ, νεκρός ἐστιν· ὅταν δὲ λάβῃ τὴν σφραγῖδα, ἀποτίθεται τὴν νέκρωσιν καὶ ἀναλαμβάνει τὴν ζωήν. ἡ σφραγὶς οὖν τὸ ὕδωρ ἐστίν· εἰς τὸ ὕδωρ οὖν καταβαίνουσι νεκροὶ καὶ ἀναβαίνουσι ζῶντες.

Justin Martyr Teaches: Baptism is regeneration and illumination

c. 100–c. 165 AD · First Apology 61

As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and who undertake to be able to live accordingly, are taught to pray and ask God with fasting for the forgiveness of their past sins, while we pray and fast with them.

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Clement of Alexandria Teaches: Baptism is regeneration and illumination

c. 150–c. 215 AD · Instructor 1.6

We were not called children and infants for a childish, contemptible lesson. Regenerated, we have at once received the perfect — which is why we were hurrying. For we were illuminated; and that means to know God.

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Other passages filed here (9)