Tuesday Scholarly Notes
10/29/24
Aland, Kurt. (1961). "Chapter Four: Tertullian." Did the Early Church Baptize Infants? (Translated by G. R. Beasley-Murray). (pages 61-69). Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock. (Personal Library)
Aland dates Tertullian from about 160 ultil after 220, placing him as a transitional figure from the second to third centuries (Aland 1961, p. 61). Tertullian's work, De Baptismo, describes his opposition to baptizing infants and small children. This implies a setting in which people would baptize the very young, and lays out an argument that baptismal candidates should come when they are older and understand more.
While Jeremias takes Tertullian to be speaking of children who convert to Christianity, Aland considers his remarks to refer also to the children of converts (Aland 1961, p. 62-63). The dating of Tertullian's comments regarding baptism is a challenge. Tertullian's views may have changed during his adult life (Aland 1961, p. 63). Yet we are not entirely certain of the dates of his written works. Aland does think Tertullian held baptism of adult or fairly mature converts as his basic standard. They confess the faith themselves and act in ways that indicate their own volition rather than that of parents (Aland 1961, p. 64). Aland nots that Jeremias assumes that Tertullian, in De Anima chapters 39-40 assumes and endorses infant baptism. However, Aland does not take this to be the case. Rather, Aland considers the passage of Tertullian to refer to pagan practices with their children (Aland 1961, p. 65). Aland spends considerable effort on exegesis of the concept in Tertullian.
In the end, Aland considers that Jeremias has misidentified the subject of Tertullian's argument (Aland 1961, p. 67). Tertullian's argument is that repentance should not be delayed, and that baptism follows repentance. Jeremias, on the other hand, concludes Tertullian's point to be that baptism should not be delayed (Aland 1961, p. 68).
10/29/24
Aland, Kurt. (1961). "Chapter Four: Tertullian." Did the Early Church Baptize Infants? (Translated by G. R. Beasley-Murray). (pages 61-69). Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock. (Personal Library)
Aland dates Tertullian from about 160 ultil after 220, placing him as a transitional figure from the second to third centuries (Aland 1961, p. 61). Tertullian's work, De Baptismo, describes his opposition to baptizing infants and small children. This implies a setting in which people would baptize the very young, and lays out an argument that baptismal candidates should come when they are older and understand more.
While Jeremias takes Tertullian to be speaking of children who convert to Christianity, Aland considers his remarks to refer also to the children of converts (Aland 1961, p. 62-63). The dating of Tertullian's comments regarding baptism is a challenge. Tertullian's views may have changed during his adult life (Aland 1961, p. 63). Yet we are not entirely certain of the dates of his written works. Aland does think Tertullian held baptism of adult or fairly mature converts as his basic standard. They confess the faith themselves and act in ways that indicate their own volition rather than that of parents (Aland 1961, p. 64). Aland nots that Jeremias assumes that Tertullian, in De Anima chapters 39-40 assumes and endorses infant baptism. However, Aland does not take this to be the case. Rather, Aland considers the passage of Tertullian to refer to pagan practices with their children (Aland 1961, p. 65). Aland spends considerable effort on exegesis of the concept in Tertullian.
In the end, Aland considers that Jeremias has misidentified the subject of Tertullian's argument (Aland 1961, p. 67). Tertullian's argument is that repentance should not be delayed, and that baptism follows repentance. Jeremias, on the other hand, concludes Tertullian's point to be that baptism should not be delayed (Aland 1961, p. 68).
RSS Feed