Everett Ferguson's Baptism in the Early Church: A Liturgical Appraisal

This essay analyzes Everett Ferguson's massive study of Baptism in the Early Church using questions from the catechetical tradition: what is baptism? what are its benefits? how can water do such great things? what is the significance of such a bathing? why does the church baptize infants? These...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Senn, Frank C. 1943- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Johns Hopkins Univ. Press 2012
In: Journal of early Christian studies
Year: 2012, Volume: 20, Issue: 3, Pages: 439-455
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Summary:This essay analyzes Everett Ferguson's massive study of Baptism in the Early Church using questions from the catechetical tradition: what is baptism? what are its benefits? how can water do such great things? what is the significance of such a bathing? why does the church baptize infants? These questions get at the phenomenological, theological, ritual, liturgical, and pastoral issues in baptism. I consider baptism to be an extended ritual process of initiation rather than as a discrete ritual act. I question Ferguson's view about submersion in ancient baptismal practice and offer a wider view of the ancient church's practice of infant baptism.
ISSN:1086-3184
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of early Christian studies
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1353/earl.2012.0022