Shape Of Baptism Analysis

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This paper will explore three questions that emerged from reading chapter two of Aiden Kavanagh’s book The Shape of Baptism. First, what information was surprising, inspiring, or intriguing? Second, what insights does Kavanagh’s review of the process of initiation provide a Christian with when he thinks about Baptism? Third, is there an element of the Roman initiation that needs to be reflected upon more deeply?
A surprising piece of information from Kavanagh’s text is that despite “all the development of Christian initiation over the past two thousand years its core still centers upon proclamation, conversion, and baptism… just as the earliest churches” did in obedience to Jesus’ command. (Kavanagh, pg. 36) The fact that these fundamental …show more content…

As Kavanagh points out from the Didache, the Christian “initiatory practice was pluralistic and [continued] developing… [beyond] the beginning of the second century.” (Ibid., pg. 40) There is the East Syrian and Armenian liturgical sources (i.e. the Acts of Thomas and the Didascalia Apostolorum) which describe the Baptism sequence as 1.) anointing the catechumen with olive oil on the forehead; 2.) the triple water immersion with the Trinitarian formula; and 3.) the reception of the Eucharist. (40-41) The pneumatological emphasis of the Syrian initiation process is expressed quite clearly through the anointing that takes place before the washing ritual. (42) The emphasis in both the Greek-speaking church of Rome and the Latin-speaking church of Carthage was “the notion of [new] birth and cleansing for the remission of sins.” (Ibid., pg. 46) In the Graeco-Latin churches the initiation process began with 1.) a preparatory instruction; 2.) anointing with exorcised oil after renouncing Satan; 3.) the triple water immersion with the Trinitarian formula; 4.) the anointing with chrism oil; 5.) the laying on of hands along with the invocation of the Holy Spirit; and 6.) the reception of the Eucharist. However, despite the differences in emphasis

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