Tom, I, too, believe that the Great Commissioin was given to the Apostles, who made up the church that Jesus established during his earthly ministry. The authority to baptize was given to that church and each church established thereafter. Individuals who baptize must do so only by the authority of the local congregation.
In Acts 8, Philip went down to Samaria and baptized several folks. Peter and John were dispatched from the Jerusalem congregation to Samaria to observe what was happening, and give their approval to Philip's evangelistic efforts.
BTW, this was a literal fulfillment of Jesus' prophecy (Acts 1:8) that they would be "witnesses in Jerusalem, all of Judea, and in Samaria....."
The point here is that the authority to baptize is given to the local church, not to individuals.
Even though I think a baptism may be done by an unordained person, I would point out that the only baptisms we know of in the NT were done by ordained men. All of them had either a direct commission from Jesus (John the Baptist, The 12), or from a local congregation (Jerusalem, Antioch).
Authority to Baptize
Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by pinoybaptist, Jul 16, 2007.
Page 2 of 3
-
-
There is a gift of "evangelist" spoken of in Scripture. (Eph. 4:11)
One who had this gift, apparently, was Philip, the evangelist. (Acts 21:8) He had four daughters, BTW, who apparently had the gift of prophet ( Eph. 4:11) or prophecy (Rom. 12:6) (if there may be some slight difference actually, here), for they did indeed prophesy. (Acts 21:9) Just thought I'd throw the last bit about the daughters prophesying in for free. :D
One who apparently did not have the gift of evangelist was Timothy, for it is not mentioned, yet he was told to "do the work of an evangelist". (II Tim. 4:5)
I would offer that this is consistent with one of the qualifications for a bishop/elder, in that he must be "able to teach" (I Tim. 3:2, c.f. Tit. 1:9), but without saying that an elder necessarily has the 'gift' of teacher, or pastor/teacher. In fact, is appears some elders, although they do 'rule', do not labor in the word and doctrine, by course. (I Tim. 5:17)
And what exactly does Rom. 10:14 have to do with the gift of evangelist?? IN fact, that verse says nothing about any gift, let alone a non-existent one of "preaching!" Can not anyone proclaim or 'preach' the 'euaggelion' or the gospel or good news, depending on how you wish to render these words? Paul 'preached', Peter 'preached', others 'preached', people 'preach' today, and I would suggest that not all of them have the "gift" of "evangelist", nor is it necessary to have that specific gift. I have neither the gift of evangelist, nor that of pastor/teacher (by any stretch, I add), yet I have and do proclaim the good news. If that gift were required, I could not do this, at all.
Ed -
Acts 1:15-22 (KJV)
15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection. -
-
Ed -
Incidentally, two times back in the 'teens, according to my folks, my late dad, and two of my late aunts were all baptized in January, in a pond, where they cut the ice in order to baptize the candidates. AND they had to walk a half mile to the '"baptizin'" and back in wet clothes, to the nearest house of a church member. One of my aunts once told me that the wet clothes froze on her, and my dad, as well, when he was baptized, for it was well below freezing. Brrrrr!!
I bet they might have settled for "sprinkling." :laugh: :laugh:
Ed -
-
Ed -
Ed -
-
-
17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.
19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
No indication there that an apostle had to be sent for. Indeed, if that had been the case, Acts 9.26-27 would surely not say:
26 And when Saul had come to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples; but they were all afraid of him, and did not believe that he was a disciple.
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. And he declared to them how he had seen the Lord on the road, and that He had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.
If an apostle had baptised Paul, formerly one of the greatest enemies of the early church, it would be strange indeed if he had not passed on that information to his fellow-apostles straight away. -
Acts 18 and 19, and 1st Cor. 1 give the impression that Apollos was also baptizing, and there's no record of him being authorized by a church or set of elders.
Les -
But seriously, what is the real difference between a baptistry and a large bathtub?? :confused:
That part sounds like straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel, to me, although I admit its just me.
Ed -
I believe in changing as long as you can stay with scripture. -
Note also that the congregation at Jerusalem refused Paul membership, even though he desired to join them there. Only when Barnabas vouched for him was he received. -
-
"However, Aresman has raised very valid points with regards to baptism. If the Great Commission was only to the apostles, then the authority to baptize stops after the apostolic period."
I was saying that it is highly unlikely that Paul was baptised by an apostle. -
Ed -
1Cr 3:5¶Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
If you are using this Scripture for support that Apollos baptized, it also mentions Christ, and I don't think He baptized any did he?
1Cr 1:12Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
Page 2 of 3