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Question: A) Provide your knowledge and understanding of the doctrine and practice of baptism in the Early Church (30).
B) Explore the claim that the early church had high expectations with regard to the purpose and significance of baptism (15)
Answer: Against the socio-economic context of the church’s history, the Pentateuch outlines the different religious beliefs and spiritual benefits associated with this sacrament of covenant obedience along with the religious use of water. Such religious discipline developed deeply and at length due to varying motives for its practice. This was achieved, according to Bridge and Phypers, through the “extent of baptismal preparation, the way the rite is administered, and the way the rite is understood”. Although the New Testament Canon stipulates that there was little or no preparation with converts baptized on the spot, as soon as they believed, the main areas of concern were essentially: faith, purification, union with Jesus’ death and resurrection, admission to the church, ongoing salvation and commitment to the trinity. Historically, at the time of earliest Christianity there was a bapt...(short extract)
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- Subject: Theology and Religious Studies
- Course: Theology and Religion
- Level: Degree
- Year: 2nd/3rd
- Mark: Not available
- Words: 2114
- Date submitted: March 07, 2013
- Date written: Not available
- References: No
- Document type: Essay*
- Essay ID: 4546
