I've been reading lots of scripture over the last few days about covenants, circumicisions, and baptism, but to be honest I don't really see the connection in scripture. How did baptism get to be a sign of the covenant? I'd be interested in historical answers to this question as well as biblical ones.
That's one question. Another and I think more foundational one is about the nature of "signs and seals". As I understand it, a Presbyterian would tell me that (infant) baptism is much more than a symbol, that something real is happening, although most would say the child is not being saved. So it's more than a dedication, but less than salvation.
The same is true of communion, I guess -- more than a memory, but less than transubstantiation. I think I understand the concept better as it applies to communion than to baptism.
A final question, for now: is baptism always the same word in the Greek New Testament? Or is there a semantic way to tell the difference between the baptism of the Spirit and water baptism? I'm wondering this especially in regard to mentions of baptism in the epistles like Eph. 4:5 and I Cor. 12:13.
And while we're on the subject, what do you make of I Corinthians 15:29?
So, any thoughts? Good articles or books? (I'd especially be interested if church fathers addressed the issue, which I'm sure they did).
