Everett Fergusons work here is a compendium of almost everything that is currently known about the Christian ritual of baptism, with extensive citations to the primary and secondary literature, and as such is destined to be an extremely valuable reference work.
Baptism in the Early Church
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47 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Magisterial Study,
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This review is from: Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries (Hardcover)
From the jacket:"This magisterial study is a comprehensive survey of the doctrine and practice of baptism in the first five centuries of Christian history, arranged geographically within chronological periods. ... The book deals primarily with with the literary sources, though it also gives attention to depictions of baptism, (primarily of Jesus)in various art forms and to the surviving baptismal fonts. Ferguson's thorough study points to the central importance of baptism in the early church. Many blessings were attributed to baptism, but the two earliest and most consistently mentioned are forgiveness of sins and the reception of the Holy Spirit; faith and repentance were necessary in order to receive these benefits. ... full immersion was the normal practice, and the evidence from art is consistent with this interpretation." This work is massive and detailed and divided into seven parts: Antecedents to Christian baptism Baptism in the New Testament Baptism in the second century Baptism in the third century up until Nicea (325 A.D.) The fourth century The fifth century Baptisteries Ferguson's discussion of Gregory of Nazianzus's famous Orations on baptism circa A.D. 380 support the conclusions of the jacket cover: baptism was often delayed until adolescence or adulthood or later. Gregory urges congregants not to put off baptism and most typically refers to it as "regeneration." The penultimate chapter discusses Augustine of Hippo's baptismal practices and theology. Augustine himself presided as bishop of Hippo in the Basilica of Peace between 411 and 430 A.D. Archaeological finds uncovered the basilica's baptistery revealing a baptismal pool some three feet deep and somewhat broader and wider. The process whereby the catechumens at Hippo were to be baptized on Easter are elaborately detailed by Ferguson based on Augustine's own writings. One question is whether or not the catechumens at Hippo were fully immersed. Augustine does not say in his many comments about the baptismal procedure at Hippo, but Ferguson contends Augustine had full immersion in mind. (Some think the baptismal pool not deep enough for full immersion while others contend Augustine had the catechumens wade into the pool to show humility and then kneel for baptism.) Ferguson argues that by "baptismus/baptizare" Augustine referred to the inner purification by Christ whereas "tinctio/intinguere" referred to the physical act of baptism itself. Augustine even uses the word "submersio" and so presumably practiced full immersion according to Ferguson. Important to note that Augustine did consider catechumens to be Christians before baptism, though they were not full members of the Church Catholic. Infant baptism, although not yet the norm in Christian North Africa, was common enough, especially for emergency baptisms. There are hardly any references to the baptism of healthy infants. The ritual for infants was basically the same as for adults. The infants were exorcized, validating Augustine's view of infants being stained with original sin. Adults would then speak the renunciation [of satan] and the profession of faith. "What infants were not yet able to do through their own faith was done for them by those who love them." Augustine resorted to the faith of others to justify the baptism of infants. In "On the Literal Interpretation of Genesis" Augustine states that baptism absolves infants from the punishment of original sin, "so it is right and proper to baptize them." Infants were then immersed in the same way as adults and then received an anointing(chrismation)and a laying on of hands (consignation). Afterwards they participated in the baptismal eucharist, receiving both the bread and the wine. Sermon 174 states "infants are members of Christ and receive the sacraments, including sharing in His table." And so, with Gregory in the East and Augustine in the West - during the Pelagian controversy - infant baptism became the norm for the early church some time in the fifth century. An extremely detailed an invaluable resource, though clearly not without biases given that many would argue infant baptism was normative at a much earlier time in the Church's history. Biases notwithstanding Ferguson's assertions are well documented and he is conversant with the secondary literature.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries,
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This review is from: Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries (Hardcover)
A very thorough and detailed examination of the practice of Baptism using the the available documents. These include all the documents that have been discovered to the present. The book is divided into sections dealing with each century. Also provided are the pertinent archeolgical discoveries including Jewish and Christian. It is useful not only to the professional but to the lay person as well.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Detailed and extensive,
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This review is from: Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries (Hardcover)
This volume includes extensive details and documentation on baptismal practice reflected in the literature of antiquity as well as existing baptismal fonts with numerous photos. This book is essential to anyone interested in baptismal liturgy and especially those formulating revisions to current practice seeking a return to early Christian roots.
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archeologia cristiana, baptismal movements, catechetical lectures, apocryphal acts, talmudic period, disobedient spirits, paschal baptism, infant dedication, clothing metaphors, triple divine name, round piscina, théologie baptismale, catechesi battesimale, baptismal des adultes, onctions baptismales, interrogatory confession, leur principaux témoins, postmortem baptism, postbaptismal imposition, baptismal interpretation, dossier baptismal, eschatological baptism, postbaptismal rites, baptismal room, hexagonal font Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Holy Spirit, New Testament, John the Baptist, Old Testament, John Chrysostom, Against Heresies, Jesus Christ, New York, Christian Initiation, Son of God, Apostolic Tradition, Church History, Red Sea, Catechetical Oration, North Africa, Everett Ferguson, Mark the Monk, Cyril of Jerusalem, Die Taufe, Catholic University of America Press, Fathers of the Church, Grand Rapids, Gregory of Nyssa, Clement of Alexandria, Second Series Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
archeologia cristiana, baptismal movements, catechetical lectures, apocryphal acts, talmudic period, disobedient spirits, paschal baptism, infant dedication, clothing metaphors, triple divine name, round piscina, théologie baptismale, catechesi battesimale, baptismal des adultes, onctions baptismales, interrogatory confession, leur principaux témoins, postmortem baptism, postbaptismal imposition, baptismal interpretation, dossier baptismal, eschatological baptism, postbaptismal rites, baptismal room, hexagonal font Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Holy Spirit, New Testament, John the Baptist, Old Testament, John Chrysostom, Against Heresies, Jesus Christ, New York, Christian Initiation, Son of God, Apostolic Tradition, Church History, Red Sea, Catechetical Oration, North Africa, Everett Ferguson, Mark the Monk, Cyril of Jerusalem, Die Taufe, Catholic University of America Press, Fathers of the Church, Grand Rapids, Gregory of Nyssa, Clement of Alexandria, Second Series Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Surprise Me!
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