APOSTLE BARNABAS : We Descend into the WATER Full of Sins and DEFILEMENT

THE APOSTLE BARNABAS  70 -130, Eastern writer

JESUS answered,

Verily, verily, I+ say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of Water and of the SPIRIT, 

he cannot enter into the Kingdom of GOD.

John 3:5 

How . . .

did the Pre-Nicene Christians interpret these plain words of CHRIST ? 

From the Epistle of Barnabas, Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1, Section XI , "Baptism and the Cross Prefigured in the Old Testament,"  page 144 :

[ After Barnabas quotes several passages in the Prophets and Psalms, he says ] . . . Mark how HE has described at once both the Water and the Cross.  For these words imply,

Blessed are they who, placing their trust in the CROSS, have gone down into the Water; . . .

This meaneth that we indeed descend into the Water full of sins and defilement, but come up, bearing fruit in our heart, having the fear [ of GOD ]  and trust in JESUS in our spirit. "

This Apostle and companion of the Apostle Paul, both separated unto the work of the LORD by the HOLY SPIRIT,  did not spiritualize away the "WATER" not did he ignore the cleansing work in our souls effected by the Waters of BAPTISM. 

Why do we ?  

 Verily, verily, I+ say unto thee, 

Except a man be born of Water

and of the SPIRIT, 

he cannot enter into the Kingdom of GOD.

The Words of JESUS CHRIST  . 

 

 

ANTE-NICENE CHURCH on BAPTISM

Some Thoughts

from the Ante-Nicene Church

on Baptism

taken from the Ante-Nicene Fathers,

the volumes of writings of the Early Church

From Barnabas (c. 70-130 A.D.) recorded in the ANF 1.144.....

Blessed are they trusting in the cross, going down into the water... We indeed descend into the water full of sins and defilement. However, we come up, bearing fruit in our heart, having the fear [of God] and the trust in Jesus in our spirit.

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From Hermas (c. 150 A.D.) recorded in ANF 2.49.....

Before a man bears the name of the SON of GOD, he is dead. But when he receives the seal, he lays aside his deadness and obtains life.The seal, then is the water. They descend into the water dead, and they arise alive.

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From Justin Martyr (c.160) recorded in ANF 1.183....

In order that we may obtain in the water THE REMISSION OF SINS formerly committed, there is pronounced over him who chooses to be born again, and has repented of his sins, the name of GOD the FATHER and LORD of the Universe... And in the name of JESUS CHRIST... and in the name of the HOLY SPIRIT.

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to be continued...