No prophets and apostles - violates Ephesians 2:20
There would be no prophets after Christ (
Matthew 21)
Apostle is Greek ἀπόστολος and means “one who is sent.”
infant baptism - in the Bible baptism always follows belief. Infants are too young to believe.
There is no express mention of the baptizing of infants in the New Testament, but it is at least probable that there were infants among the whole families that were baptized by St. Paul (Acts xvi. 15; 1 Cor. i. 16). The necessity of infant Baptism follows from the fact that they have contracted the guilt of original sin (Rom. xii. 5- 19), which Baptism alone can remit (John iii. 5).
The early Fathers are unanimous in insisting upon infant Baptism, basing it on the universal command of Christ to all (Matt, xxviii. 19; John iii. 5), and on its divine power to cleanse from original sin. St. Irenseus (140-205) writes: “He came to save all who through Him are born again unto God; infants, and children, boys and youths, and elders” (Adv. Hcer., Lib. ii., ch. xxii.) Origen (185-255) declares infant Baptism an Apostolic institution (Epis. ad. Rom., Lib., v… 9). and necessary to cleanse infants from their Original Sin (In Lev., viii., 3). St. Cyprian and the Bishops of the Third Council of Carthage (253) taught that children should be baptized as soon as possible after birth. Their Baptism was not to be deferred until the eighth day, as some maintained. This is (Epis., lix., 3-5), a faithful echo of the teaching of the Apostles, as St. Augustine remarked (Epis., cxliv., 23). The Council of Milevis (416) taught the necessity of infant Baptism, and this doctrine was repeated in the Councils of Fourth Lateran, Vienne, Florence and Trent.
Respondit Jesus : Amen, amen dico tibi, nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua, et Spiritu Sancto, non potest introire in regnum Dei. [Joan. iii. 5]
JESUS answered, Amen, Amen I say to thee, Unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God. [John. iii. 5]
The words “unless a man” (nisi quis) allow of no distinction between young and old, they mean children and adults (nisi quis literally means “unless one is” or “unless anyone is.”). The Greek ἐὰν μή τις (eán mí̱ tis) means “if not anyone.” The term “anyone” would have no distinction between adult or child.
Where the Greek Reads :
ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, ἐὰν μή τις γεννηθῇ ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ Πνεύματος, οὐ δύναται εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ. Ιωαν. Γʹ. 5]
Jesus answered Amen amen I say to thee, if anyone is not born again of water and the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God. [John. iii. 5]
ἀπεκρίθη Ἰησοῦς· ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω σοι, ἐὰν μή τις γεννηθῇ ἐξ ὕδατος καὶ Πνεύματος, οὐ δύναται εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ.
apekríthi̱ Ii̱soús: amí̱n amí̱n légo̱ soi, eán mí̱ tis genni̱thí̱ ex ýdatos kaí Pnév̱matos, ou dýnatai eiseltheín eis tí̱n vasileían toú Theoú.
Jesus answered Amen amen I say to thee, if anyone is not born again of water and the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God.
baptism by sprinkling - The very word comes from the greek word meaning “to immerse”.
According to the Didache (Διδαχή) Chapter 7 :
- Περὶ δὲ τοῦ βαπτίσματος, οὕτω βαπτίσατε· ταῦτα πάντα πρειπόντες, βαπτίσατε εἰς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ πατρὸς καὶ τοῦ υἱοῦ καὶ τοῦ ἁγίου πνεύματος ἐν ὕδατι ζῶντι. 2. ἐὰν δὲ μὴ ἔχῃς ὕδωρ ζῶν, εἰς ἄλλο ὕδωρ βάπτισον· εἰ δ’ οὐ δύνασαι ἐν ψυχρῷ, ἐν θερμῷ. 3. ἐὰν δὲ ἀμφότερα μὴ ἔχῃς, ἔκχεον εἰς τὴν κεφαλὴν τρὶς ὕδωρ εἰς ὄνομα πατρὸς καὶ υἱοῦ καὶ ἁγίου πνεύματος. 4. πρὸ δὲ τοῦ βαπτίσμος προνηστευσάτω ὁ βαπτίζων καὶ ὁ βαπτιζόμενος καὶ εἴ τινες ἄλλοι δύναται· κελεύεις δὲ νηστεῦσαι τὸν βαπτιζόμενον πρὸ μιᾶς ἢ δύο.
7:1 But concerning baptism, thus baptize ye: having first recited all these precepts, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water;
7:2 but if thou hast not running water, baptize in some other water, and if thou canst not baptize in cold, in warm water;
7:3 but if thou hast neither, pour water three times on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
7:4 But before the baptism, let him who baptizeth and him who is baptized fast previously, and any others who may be able. And thou shalt command him who is baptized to fast one or two days before.
:byzsoc:
