Crossing The Tiber by Steve Ray

Author:Steve Ray [Ray, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Spiritual & Religion
ISBN: 9780898705775
Publisher: Ignatius Press
Published: 2011-02-16T07:00:00+00:00

94 Tertullian, On Baptism 1, in Roberts and Donaldson, Ante-Nicene Fathers, 3:669. Tertullian starts his treatise with these words, not as though he is trying to prove a new point (the efficacious nature of baptism), but to invoke a well-known, universally accepted doctrine and practice. Tertullian’s treatise on the subject of baptism echoes what we have studied so far and is fascinating to read. After praising the “marvelous preaching of the 12 apostles and their immediate successors”, Baptist J. M. Carrol states in his little booklet The Trail of Blood (Lexington, Ky.: Ashland Baptist Church, 1994), “So that it was in this period [first and second centuries] that the idea of ‘Baptismal Regeneration’ began to get a fixed hold in some of the churches” (13). With Tertullian we arrive at the end of the second century, two of the most glorious centuries in the Church’s history, and we find him teaching the same doctrine of baptism as was taught by the “12 apostles and their immediate successors”—a wonderful continuity. Carrol claims these early Christians as his own, yet he refuses to face up to the fact that they taught distinctly Catholic doctrines that do not resemble his Fundamentalist teaching. Up to this point in our study we find no early voice of Christian orthodoxy teaching that baptism is only for adults, does not regenerate, is only by immersion, or does not wash away sins. Tertullian’s treatise On Baptism comprises eleven pages of small type in The Ante-Nicene Fathers and clearly summarizes many of the topics we have discussed so far, such as the hovering of the Spirit in “the beginning” and at baptism, water as a vehicle of divine operation, sacraments to infuse inward grace, the Flood, the Red Sea, and many others. This incomplete list gives an idea of the content of the whole treatise. Back to text.

95 Ibid., 3:669, sec. 1. Tertullian chides and condemns those who dare to deny God’s ability to regenerate and wash away sins with the waters of baptism. He writes, “Oh, miserable incredulity, which quite denies to God His own properties, simplicity and power! Take heed, those who deny the sacramental power of the waters appointed by God Himself!” (ibid., chap. 2). These are very strong words. The primitive Church speaks from the past—to our generation—warning against heresy and false teaching, censuring the very beliefs espoused by the Evangelical Protestants of today.

We should listen carefully and not think that our ability to understand the Bible is superior to theirs, that we can disregard the instruction of the men of God from the first years of the Church. Back to text.

96 Ibid., 3:678, sec. 18. It has become abundantly clear that the ancient Church, from east to west, was baptizing infants and doing so with the conviction that they were obeying the direct commands of the apostles. According to The Catholic Encyclopedia, ed. Charles G. Herbermann et al. (New York: Robert Appleton Co., 1907), “While not denying the validity of infant baptism, Tertullian desired

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