Baptismal Regeneration?

[Encryptus]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

I think what the writer is essentially saying is that ... the concept of baptism for remission of sins is not only in the bible, but was clearly and commonly expressed in the writings of the second and third century believers.

Originally Posted by TRFrance

Well, let's not miss the Bro. Shaw's point here.

The issue that the brother is getting at is not whether the Didache or these other writings were divinely inspired. The issue is whether the belief of baptism for remission of sins was widely held in the church of the first few centuries.

Without getting into a debate on the merits of the doctrine, the fact is...whether one agrees with the doctrine or not, one can not make an informed argument that the concept of baptism for the remission of sins wasn't a widely held doctrine in the church of the first few centuries.

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Yeah held by paganist philosophers who believed the Eucharist, fasting and praying also remitted sins.
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I believe TR is merely trying to make a point that both views were manifest early on in the history of the church.

As an aside, in the first century converts to Judaism were baptized for the remission of sins and even they debated whether it was to remit sins or because sins had been remitted. I believe all TR was trying to say "without getting into a debate on the merits of the doctrine" is that BOTH beliefs were debated, perhaps as early as the FIRST century.