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Update 47 page 7.

Christian Baptism and John's Baptism

Condensed from a small part of "The origins of baptism" in the United Free Church of Scotland's Panel on Doctrine's report (2001) on baptism.

"John's baptism was not Christian baptism, nor was it associated with the gift of the Spirit," says R A Cole. "In Acts 19:2 the disciples of John are re-baptised by Paul, as being ignorant of the very existence of the Spirit, and as not having been baptised in the name of Jesus."

"But," (he continues) "there is no evidence for the re-baptism of those disciples of the Lord who had previously been John's disciples, and who may thus be presumed to have received his baptism already". (Nor, we might add, of people like Apollos in Acts 18:24-28. There is also no hint of Jews like Zacchaeus or Nicodemus being baptized.)

So what is the relationship between baptisms? The focus on repentance and forgiveness are one key element of Christian baptism (the other key element - faith - is not present in John's baptism). But we can go one step further:

Several theologians maintain that the foundation of Christian baptism is Jesus receiving baptism from John (e.g. Bultmann, Flemington and Barth). "It seems obvious that when Christian baptized, their thoughts went back to Jesus being baptized" writes Baillie. No NT makes this point, but there are some clear parallels:

• Jesus was identified with us in his baptism; we are identified with him in our baptism.
   
• Jesus was acknowledged Son of God at his baptism; we are acknowledged sons of God at our baptism (albeit by faith - Gal 3.26). Our sonship is rooted in his.
   
• Jesus' baptism had anticipatory and eschatological elements, looking to his redemptive act of death - resurrection - ascension - parousia; our baptism too looks to our death, resurrection, ascension and glorification with him.
   
• The Spirit descended on Jesus at his baptism, and is given to those who are baptised in his name (Acts 2.38).

It should be remembered that these are parallels and as such are not be taken too far.

In conclusion, to talk about John's baptism anticipating Christian baptism may be going too far. But there is an explicit reference to connect John's baptism of Jesus with water and Jesus' baptism of his followers with the Holy Spirit. John's symbolic baptism with water anticipated Jesus' effective baptism with the Holy Spirit. And Jesus' baptism of his followers with the Holy Spirit is symbolised by baptism with water.

The whole chapter can be read on our web site.

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This web page was last updated on 16th May 2004.