Baptism
The Ethiopiabn Orthodox Church holds a very strong, sacramental view of water baptism. It is understood as God's saving act, not merely a symbol.
1. Baptism is necessary for Salvation
Baptism (Ma'tmaq) is taught as essential for entering the kingdom of God, based on:
⦁ John 3:5 - Born of water and spirit
⦁ Mark 16:16
⦁ Acts 2:38
⦁ Unbaptized persons are not considered fully incorporated into Christ.
2. Immersion in Water
⦁ Baptism is perfromed by triple immersion, not sprinkling.
⦁ The three immersions are in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
⦁ Full immersion symbolizes:
1. Death with Christ
2. Burial
3. Resurrection to new life (Romans 6:3-4
3. Infants are baptized because:
⦁ Humanity inherits Adam's fallen nature
⦁ Baptism cleanses original sin
⦁ Timing:
1. Boys: 40 days after birth
2. Girls: 80 days after birth
This mirrors purification patterns found in Levitiacal 12 and ancient Hebrew practice.
4. Union with Christ (Tewahedo Theology)
"Tewahedo" means "made one."
⦁ Baptism unites the believer mystically with Christ
⦁ It is not symbolic - it actually imparts grace
⦁ The Holy Spirit is actively present in the water
5. Connection to Circumcision
The church teaches baptism as the new covenant sign, replacing circumcision:
⦁ Colossians 2:11 -12 just as infants were circumcised under the Law, infants are baptize under grace.
6. Not Baptized Twice
⦁ There is one true baptism
⦁ Rebaptism is not permitted if validity is uncertain, a conditional prayer is used - not a second baptism.
7. Linked to Chrismattion & Eucharist
Baptism is never isolated:
1. Baptism (water+Spirit)
2. Chrismation (anointing with holy oil)
3. Holy Communion
Together, they complete entry into the full life of the Church
8. Timkat (Epiphany) Emphasis
During Timkat, Ethopians:
⦁ Re-encated Christ's baptism in the Jordan
⦁ Renew baptism vows
⦁ Celebrate purification, covenant, and identity
⦁ This reflects how central baptism is to spiritual life, not just a past event.
9. Contrast with Western Views
Unlike many Western Protestant teachings:
⦁ Baptism is not symbolic
⦁ Faith alone without baptism is incomplete
⦁ Water baptism is a means God uses to save
In Summary
⦁ Baptism saves
⦁ Baptism regenerated
⦁ Baptism unites us with Christ
⦁ Baptism is ancient, Hebrew-rooted, and apostolic
Ethiopian Orthodox
1. A saving sacrament
2. god acts through the water
3. Actually regenerates and unites the person to Christ
Baptist
⦁ A symbolic ordinance
⦁ A public testimony of faith
⦁ Does not save or regenerate
Key contrats:
Ethiopian: Baptism does something
Baptist: Baptism represents something
Role in Salvation:
⦁ Salvation is by faith alone
⦁ Baptism is an act of obedience after salvation
⦁ Based on Ephesians 2:8-9, Luke 23:43
Baptists often say:
"If baptism saves, then grace is no longer grace."
3. Faith & Timimg
Baptist
⦁ Requires personal confession of faith first
⦁ No faith -no baptism
Infant Baptism
Baptist
⦁ Strongly rejected
⦁ Infants are innocent/under grace
⦁ Infant baptism is viewed as unbiblical
⦁ This is one of the sharpest disagreements.
Mode of Baptism
Baptist
single full immersion
Seen as necessary because immersion symbolizes death and resurrections
Ironically, both agree on immersion, but disagree onmeaning
6.
⦁ Circumcision was ethnic/national
⦁ Baptism is for believers only
⦁ New covenant is personal, not household-based
Rebaptism
⦁ Rebaptism is common
⦁ If baptism happened before "true faith," it is invalid
⦁ Changing denominations often means rebaptism
Authroity and History
⦁ Emerged in the 1600's ( england)
⦁ Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone)
⦁ Rejects church tradition as authoritative
Spiritual Effect
Ethiopian Orthodox
⦁ Forgiveness of sins
⦁ Indwelling of the Spirit
⦁ entry into the body of Christ
Baptist
⦁ No spiritual change
⦁ The spirit is received at faith, not baptism
Core Theological Dived (Plainly Stated)
God uses water to save, as He always has - the Flood, the Red Sea, the Jordan."
Baptist say:
"Water never saves - only faith does. Baptism points to salvation already received."
* ( By faith are you saved through grace, and that not of yourself, it is the ift of God)
Why This Matters
This difference is not small. It reflects:
⦁ Sacramental vs. symbolic theology
⦁ Ancient covenantal worldview vs. modern individual faith framework
⦁ Africa/Eastern Church continuity vs. Reformation reaction
is the Baptist view the same as the book of Acts?
1. What the Book of Acts Actually Shows
In Acts, baptism is:
⦁ Immediate (Acts 2:38 -41; Acts 8:36
⦁ Commanded in response to the gospel
⦁ Directly tied to forgiveness, the Spirit, and salvation language
key passages: Acts 2:38_ "Repent and be baptized.....for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the Holy Spirit."
Acts 22:16 - "Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins...."
Acts 8:12 - They believed and were baptized (no long delay)
In Acts, baptism is never described as merely symbolic.
2. What Baptists Teach
Baptists teach:
⦁ Salvation happens before baptism
⦁ Baptism is a public symbol of an inward faith already completed
⦁ Baptism does not forgive sins or impart the Spirit
This framework developed after the Reformation (1600), not from Acts itself.
3. The Key Difference (Very Important)
In Acts
Faith+repentance-baptism
forgiveness / Spirit / entry
In Baptist theology:
Faith -salvation complete- later baptism as testimony
That sequence does not appear explicity in Acts
4. Baptist Selectivity with Acts
Baptists:
⦁ Emphasize immersion (correctly biblical
⦁ Emphasize believer's response (biblical)
⦁ Downplay or reinterpret:
1. for the forgiveness of sins
2. wash away your sins
3. household baptisms
4. immediacy and urgency
So Acts is filtered through later theology, not read on its own terms
5. How the early Church Read Acts ( Including Africa)
The early church - including African Christianity (Alexandria, Ethiopia) -read Acts as teaching:
⦁ Baptism remits sins
⦁ Baptism unites you to Christ
⦁ Baptism is the new-covenant entry point
This is why:
⦁ No early Christian writings teach 'Baptism is only a symbol"
⦁ Infant baptism appears very early
⦁ Rebaptism was rejected
6. A Plan Conclusion
Acts does not teach Baptist baptism theology.
Acts teaches obedient, covenantal, saving baptism.
Baptists:
⦁ Use Acts
⦁ Quotes Acts
⦁ But reinterpret Acts to fit faith -alone assumption developed later
7. In One Sentence
Acts presents baptism as effective and necessary; Baptist redefine it as symbolic to protect faith-alone theology.
II. ACTS- CHAPTER BY CHAPTER (NO THEOLOGY ADDED)
ACTS 2:38 - Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Remission = _______________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Lu 24:47; Ac 3:19
Observations
⦁ Baptism is:
⦁ Commanded
⦁ Linked to forgiveness
⦁ Linked to receiving the Spirit
⦁ No category for "saved but unbaptized believers"
Problem for Baptists:
They must redefine "for" to mean because of, which the Greek does not require and early Christians never understood that way
Acts 8 - Samaria & Ethiopian Eunch (Africa enters the text)
Samaria
"They believed Phillip.....and were baptized" (8:12)
Simon believes but is later told his heart is not right - belief alone is not treated as complete salvation.
Ethiopian Eunuch ( Africa)
Acts 8:36 - "See, here is water. What prevents me from being baptized?"
⦁ No sinner's prayer
⦁ No waiting period
⦁ Baptism is the immediate covenant response
This Africa convert was not taught symbolism - only theology
Acts 9 and 22 - Paul's own Baptism
Acts 22:16 " Rise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name."
Paul had:
⦁ Seen Christ
⦁ Believed
⦁ Fasted
⦁ Prayed
Yet was still told his sins were washed away in baptism, not before it.
Decisive: Paul himself does not teach Baptist sequence
Acts 10 - Cornelius (Gentiles)
The Spirit falls before baptism.
Baptists stop here and say: "See! Baptism isn't needed." But Peter says:
"Can anyone forbid water....?" Then commands baptism (10:47-48)
Why?
⦁ Acts 10 is exceptional, proving Gentiles are included
⦁ It does not cancel Acts 2,8,16,22
Rule in Scripture is based on patterns, not exceptions.
Acts 16 - Philippians Jailer (Household)
"He was baptized, he and all his household - immediately."
⦁ Same night
⦁ No delay
⦁ Household logic = covenant theology
Acts never pauses to say"
"Only those who made a conscious profession." That assumption comes much later.
Acts 19 -Re-baptism Clarified
People baptize wrongly (John's baptism) are baptized correctly.
This proves:
⦁ Baptism has objective content
⦁ One true baptism - not many opinions
II PAUL - DOES HE CONTRADICT ACTS? (NO)
Romans 6
"All of us were baptized into Christ were baptized into His death."
Paul does not say:
⦁ Baptized because you were already in Christ
He says:
⦁ Baptism is how you entered union with Christ
Colossians 2:11-12
Circumcised....having been buried with Him in Baptism
Paul explicitly connects:
⦁ Circumcision (infants covenant sign)
⦁ Baptism (new covenant sign)
Baptist theology rejects paul's covenant logic here
Galatians 3:27
"As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
Paul never writes:
"As many as believed...." That omission matters
Faith Alone (Ephesians 2)
Paul says we are saved by grace through faith - not that baptism is excluded.
Acts shows how faith is enacted.
Faith in Scripture is obedient faith, not mental agreement
III. HISTORY - WHEN DID "SYMBOL ONLY" APPEAR?
NOT:
⦁ Jesus
⦁ Acts
⦁ Paul
⦁ Apostles
⦁ Africa
⦁ East
⦁ Early Church
FIRST APPEARS:
⦁ 1500s -1600s
⦁ Redical Reformation
⦁ Reaction against Rome
⦁ Fear of "works"
Baptist are reacting to Catholic abuse, not following Acts.
IV AFRICA AND THE EARLY CHURCH (KEY)
⦁ Africa taught regeneration baptism
⦁ Alexandria, Ethiopia, Nubia, Carthage all agree
⦁ No Africa source teaches symbolic-only baptism
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church preserved:
⦁ Acts-style immediacy
⦁ Covenant theology
⦁ One baptism
⦁ No rebaptism
⦁ Salvation as participation, not legal declaration
Acts 8 (Ethiopian Eunuch) is not accidental - Africa is in the story early, not imported later.
V FINAL COMPARISON (PLAN)
Book of Acts teaches:
⦁ Baptism forgives sins
⦁ Baptism brings union with Christ
⦁ Baptism is urgent
⦁ Baptism is part of conversion
⦁ One baptism
Baptist theology teaches:
⦁ Baptism is symbolic
⦁ Happens after salvation ( What must I do to be saved?)
⦁ Can be delayed
⦁ Can be repeated
⦁ Is optional
These are not the same religion, even though they share a Bible.
ONE-SENTENCE TRUTH
Acts presents baptism as God's saving acts; Baptist reframe it as man's testimony.
