Christian Baptism And The Baptism Of John: A Comparative Study -- By: Gerald R. Procee

Journal: Puritan Reformed Journal
Volume: PRJ 04:2 (Jul 2012)
Article: Christian Baptism And The Baptism Of John: A Comparative Study
Author: Gerald R. Procee


Christian Baptism And The Baptism Of John:
A Comparative Study

Gerald R. Procee

The baptism of the Lord Jesus is recorded in Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3. Throughout church history, it has been debated whether the baptism of John is the same as Christian baptism, which was instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ and is practiced by the Christian church. Notably, John Calvin considered both baptisms to be the same. Speaking of the men in Acts 19, who had only been baptized with the baptism of John, Calvin wrote: “I admit, for my part, that it was the true baptism of John, and one and the same as the baptism of Christ, but I deny that they were rebaptized.”1 As proof for his position, Calvin writes:

John and the apostles agreed on one doctrine: both baptized to repentance, both to forgiveness of sins, both into the name of Christ, from whom repentance and forgiveness of sins came. John said that Christ was the lamb of God, through whom the sins of the world would be taken away [John 1:29]. In this, he made him a sacrifice acceptable to the Father, and the propitiator of righteousness and author of salvation. What could the apostles add to this confession?2

The only difference Calvin can find between the two baptisms is that John baptized in the name of the Christ who was still to come, whereas the apostles baptized in the Christ who had already revealed Himself. Calvin refers to this, however, as a minor difference and upholds his view that the baptism of John and that of the apostles was one and the same.3

Later Reformed divines followed suit. Francis Turretin argues that although there is some difference, this is only accidental and refers to the “circumstances and degrees,” but this difference is “not substantial and specific with respect to essence.”4 Turretin states that both baptisms agree in essential content. Both are external, using water, and both have the internal element—“the promise of grace concerning the remission of sins and regeneration.”5 Similarly, Wilhelmus à Brakel, in his work The Christian’s Reasonable Service, also states that the baptism of John and that of the apostles was the same baptism:

This is first of all evident because all that b...

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