Journal: Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society
Volume: JETS 61:2 (Jun 2018)
Article: The (In)Significance of the Baptizer in the Early Church: The Importance of Baptism and Unimportance of the One Who Baptized
Author: Michael Strickland

JETS 61:2 (June 2018) p. 355

The (In)Significance of the Baptizer in the Early Church: The Importance of Baptism and Unimportance of the One Who Baptized

Michael Strickland*

* Michael Strickland is Director of Graduate Studies and Assistant Professor of Theology at Amridge University, 1200 Taylor Road, Montgomery, AL 36117. He may be contacted at [email protected].

Abstract: This essay considers the role of the administrator of baptism during the first four centuries of the church. While there were disagreements over baptisms performed among heretical or schismatic groups, the church consistently refused to consider the personal character of the baptizer, focusing instead on ecclesial authority and the beliefs of the baptizand. Though East and West parted ways over whether baptisms performed outside the church could be accepted, they agreed that the baptizer played an insignificant role in rite, as long as the Trinitarian formula was used. The East went the route of Cyprian of Carthage, who required rebaptism for schismatics and heretics. The West followed the counsel of Stephen, who was willing to allow baptisms performed outside the auspices of the church. Both East and West accepted that any baptism performed with the Trinitarian formula by a presbyter or bishop, regardless of the baptizer’s character, was acceptable.

Key words: baptizer, baptism, rebaptism, economy, Lapsi

The first Christian baptisms, which are described in the book of Acts, occur after Peter’s Pentecost speech in Jerusalem in Acts 2. However, assuming that Paul’s writings predate the writing of Luke-Acts, the earliest mention of the baptizer (the one who performs the baptism) is found in 1 Cor 1:10–17.1 There, Paul addresses the “quarrels” that have arisen in Corinth, with divisions along denominational (i.e. based on names) lines: “I belong to Paul,” “I belong to Apollos,” “I belong to Cephas,” or “I belong to Christ.”2 The context suggests that these parties developed based on the one who performed the baptism of the party members. Thus, Paul baptized some, Apollos others, and Peter (Cephas) others. Those who refused to join a party simply claimed Christ. That the baptizer is in view is seen in Paul’s succeeding statements:

I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one can say you were baptized in my name. I did, in fact, baptize the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t recall if I baptized anyone else. For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the...