Quotes About Water Baptism

Quotes about water baptism from throughout Christian History.

Ignatius, A.D. 110

[Jesus] was born and baptized that by his suffering he might purify the water. (Letter to the Ephesians 18)

The Didache, A.D. 80 - 160

Concerning baptism, baptize in this way: Having first said all these things [i.e., the commands contained in the Way of Life and Death contained in first 6 chapters of the Didache], baptize into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in running water. But if you have no running water, baptize into other water. If you cannot baptize in cold, then in warm. But if you have neither, pour water three times upon the head in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. However, before baptism, let the baptizer fast, and the baptized, and whoever else can. Either way, you shall order the baptized to fast one or two days before. (ch. 7)

Pseudo-Barnabas, A.D. 120 - 130

Concerning the water, it is written about the Israelites that they should not receive the baptism which leads to the remission of sins, but should procure another for themselves. The prophet therefore declares, "Be astonished, O sky, and let the earth tremble at this: this people has committed two great evils. They have forsaken me, a running spring, and have hewn out for themselves broken cisterns" [Jer. 2:12-13]. (Letter of Barnabas 11)

Blessed are they who, placing their trust in the cross, have gone down into the water. For, says he [i.e., God through the prophets], they shall receive their reward in due time. (Letter of Barnabas 11)

We indeed descend into the water full of sins and defilement but come up bearing fruit in our heart, having the fear and trust in Jesus in our spirit. (Letter of Barnabas 11)

Justin Martyr, c. A.D. 150

I will also tell you how we dedicated ourselves to God once we had been made new through Christ. … As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and who determine to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and entreat God with fasting for the remission of their sins of the past. We pray and fast with them.

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   Then they are brought by us where there is water, and they are regenerated in the same manner in which we ourselves were regenerated. For in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe, of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, they receive the washing with water. For Christ also said, "Unless you are born again, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven" [John 3:3]. …
   How those who have sinned and repent shall escape their sins is declared by Isaiah the prophet, as I said earlier. He speaks in this way: "'Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean. Put away the evil of your doings from your souls. Learn to do good. Judge the fatherless, and plead for the widow. Then come, let us reason together,' says the Lord, 'and though your sins are as scarlet, I will make them white like wool … '"
   We have learned from the apostles the following reason for all this: at our birth we were born without our knowledge or choice—by our parents coming together—and we were brought up in bad habits and wicked training.
   So that we would not remain the children of necessity and ignorance but become the children of choice and knowledge, and so that we may obtain in the water the forgiveness of sins formerly committed. There is pronounced over the the person who chooses to be born again, and who has repented of their sins, the name of God, the Father and Lord of the universe.
   He who leads the person that is to be washed to the laver calls God by this name alone … And this washing is called illumination because those who learn these things are illuminated in their understanding.
   The one who is illuminated is also washed in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and in the name of the Holy Spirit, who through the prophets foretold all things about Jesus. (First Apology 61)

And this food is called among us the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins and to regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. (First Apology 66)

If you are eagerly looking for salvation, and if you believe in God, you may ... become acquainted with the Christ of God, and, after being initiated [a reference to baptism], live a happy life. (Dialogue with Trypho 8)

Because of this basin of repentance and knowledge of God, which has been ordained for the transgression of God’s people, as Isaiah cries, we have believed, and we testify that the very baptism which he announced is alone able to purify those who have repented. It is the water of life. But the cisterns which you have dug for yourselves are broken and of no benefit to you. For what is the use of a baptism which cleanses the flesh and body alone? Baptize the soul from wrath and from covetousness, from envy, and from hatred, and, lo, the body is pure. (Dialogue with Trypho 14)

Clement of Alexandria, c. A.D. 190

For if we have been regenerated to Christ, he who has regenerated us nourishes us with his own milk, the Word … As the regeneration was conformably spiritual, so also the nutrient of man was spiritual. In all respects, therefore, and in all things, we are brought into union with Christ; into relationship through his blood, by which we are redeemed; into sympathy, in consequence of the nourishment which flows from the Word; and into immortality, through his guidance …
   The same blood and milk of the Lord is therefore the symbol of the Lord’s passion and teaching. Therefore each of us babes is permitted to make our boast in the Lord, while we proclaim, "Yet of a noble sire and noble blood I boast me sprung" (Iliad 14:113].
   Further, milk has a most natural affinity for water, as assuredly the spiritual washing has for the spiritual nutrient. … And as is the union of the Word with baptism, so is the agreement of milk with water; for it receives water alone of all liquids, and can be mixed with water for the purpose of cleansing, as baptism for the remission of sins. It is mixed naturally with honey also, and this for cleansing along with sweet nutrition.
   For the Word blended with love at once cures our passions and cleanses our sins. The saying, "Sweeter than honey flowed the stream of speech" [Iliad I:248], seems to me to have been spoken of the Word, who is honey. And prophecy often extols him as "above honey and the honeycomb" [Ps. 19:10].
   Furthermore, milk is mixed with sweet wine, and the mixture is beneficial, as when suffering is mixed in the cup for immortality. For the milk is curdled by the wine and separated, and whatever adulteration is in it is drained off. In the same way the spiritual communion of faith with suffering man draws off the lusts of the flesh like serous matter, commits man to eternity, along with those who are divine, and immortalizes him. (The Instructor I:6)

Then he adds, "For so shall you pass through the water of another" [reference unknown, but the previous quote that he is "adding" to is from Prov. 9:17], reckoning heretical baptism not proper and true water. (Miscellanies I:19)

Tertullian, c. A.D. 200

When we are going to enter the water … in the presence of the congregation and under the hand of the president, we solemnly profess that we disown the devil, his pomp, and his angels. After this we are immersed three times, making a somewhat larger pledge than the Lord appointed in the Gospel. Then we are taken up [a reference to the Roman tradition of recognizing a newborn baby as a member of the family]. We first taste a mixture of milk and honey and from that day we refrain from the daily bath for a whole week [ed. comment: wow]. (De Corona 3)

Cyprian of Carthage, c. A.D. 250

Those who have been dipped abroad—outside the Church—and have been stained among heretics and schismatics with the taint of profane water. When they come to us and to the Church which is one, they ought to be baptized. The reason is that laying hands on them that they may receive the Holy Spirit is of little importance, unless they also receive the baptism of the Church. For then can they finally be fully sanctified and be the sons of God, if they be born of each sacrament, since it is written, "Except a man be born again of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" [John 3:5]. (Epistles of Cyprian 7, as numbered by The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. V)

He who has been sanctified, his sins being put away in baptism, and has been spiritually reformed into a new man, has become fitted for receiving the Holy Spirit; since the apostle says, As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Epistles of Cyprian 73:5, as numbered by The Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. V)

Commodianus, c. A.D. 240

You will not avoid sin following your former way of life. Thou hast once been washed [i.e., baptized]: shall you be able to be immersed again? (Instructions of Commodianus 47)

Martin Luther, c. 1520

The priest is not made. He must be born a priest; must inherit his office. I refer to the new birth—the birth of water and the Spirit. Thus all Christians must became priests, children of God and co-heirs with Christ the Most High Priest. ("First Sunday after Epiphany" from Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, vol. IV [Grand Rapids, MI:BakerBooks, 2007])

[Christ's] mission and work it is to help against sin and death, to justify and bring life. He has placed his help in baptism and the Sacrament [i.e., communion/Eucharist/Lord's supper], and incorporated it in the Word and preaching. To our eyes Baptism [capitalized in original] appears to be nothing more than ordinary water, and the Sacrament of Christ's body and blood simple bread and wine, like other bread and wine, and the sermon, hot air from a man's mouth. But we must not trust what our eyes see. ("First Sunday in Advent" from Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, vol. V [Grand Rapids, MI:BakerBooks, 2007])

I [i.e., God] have given you baptism as a gift for the forgiveness of sins, and preach to you unceasingly by word of mouth concerning this treasure, sealing it with the Sacrament of my body and blood, so that you need never doubt. True, it seems little and insignificant that by the washing of water, the Word, and the Sacrament this should all be effected. But don't let your eyes deceive you. ("First Sunday in Advent" from Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, vol. V [Grand Rapids, MI:BakerBooks, 2007])

For that purpose Christ instituted holy baptism, thereby to clothe you with his righteousness. It is tantamount to his saying, My righteousness shall be your righteousness; my innocence, your innocence. Your sins indeed are great, but by baptism I bestow on you my righteousness; I strip death from you and clothe you with my life. ("First Sunday in Advent" from Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, vol. V [Grand Rapids, MI:BakerBooks, 2007])