Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 3) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Continue Chapter 20 by reading up to the subheading '9. The subjects of Baptism'.
My summary
Most of today's reading is dedicated to a discussion of the mode of baptism. Hodge believes that baptism is simply a 'washing with water' and may be done by 'immersion, affusion or sprinkling'. He states, 'to baptise is simply a command to wash with water'. He believes this because of:
(i) the use of the word in the classics;
(ii) the use of the word in the Septuagint and Apocrypha;
(iii) the use of the word in the New Testament;
(iv) the use of the word in the Patristics;
(v) the difficulty of immersing people;
(vi) the design of the ordinance.
The last part of the reading deals with the formula of baptism. Hodge asserts that people should be baptised 'in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost', as commanded by Christ in Matthew 28:19.
What grabbed me
I thought Hodge was unconvincing in demonstrating that 'baptism' doesn't always mean 'immersion'. If you want the word to mean 'wash', it is easy to make the word mean 'wash' where the context is washing. But that doesn't mean it doesn't mean 'immerse'.
For those readers who are interested in the Baptist understanding of the word 'baptise', I recommend Dagg's treatment in his 'Manual of church order' (currently available here).
Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 20 by reading up to the subheading '11. Whose children are entitled to baptism'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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