BAPTISMAL RITE AND DECIMATION OF CHRISTIANITY: AN EXPOSITORY STUDY OF ACTS 19:1-7
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Date
2022-12
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Abstract
Twelve disciples found by Paul in Acts 19:1-7 were believed to go through a
second baptism for their salvation to be valid. The passage as it were does not
give a definite statement on the purpose of baptism whether for salvation or
for identification. There are, however, four probing questions likely to agitate
probing minds. These are: is baptism important or unimportant to Christian
Kerygma? Why was it important for the disciples in this passage to do it right?
If baptism is once and for all as claimed by Paul in Ephesians 4:5, why must
Paul encourage these disciples to do it again? What should be the implication
of this re-baptism to the unity of Christian Kerygma as taught and followed by
Apostle Paul? This paper is an expository study of Acts 19:1-7. It adopts an
exegetical and comparative analysis where necessary. It agrees with Pauline
polemic that baptism irrespective of where it is done and as long as it is done
right is right for Christian Kerygma. It recommends that any Christian
subjected to the rite of baptism on account of a change of place of worship is
nothing but a decimation of Christianity. Christian baptism must therefore be
seen and approached in the light of Christian unity all over the world.