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Baptism in the Early Church


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Primary Sources on Baptism

Book or monograph Ambrose, On the Sacraments.
Book or monograph Ambrose, On the Mysteries.
Book or monograph Chomatius of Aquileia, Sermones 14; 15; 19.
Book or monograph John Chrysostom, Baptismal Instructions.
Book or monograph John Chrysostom, Homily 25 on John.
Book or monograph Cyprian, Letter 58.
Book or monograph Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures 19-21.
Book or monograph Gregory of Nazianzus, Oration on Baptism 28.
Book or monograph Hippolytus, Apostolic Tradition 16-23.
Book or monograph Justin Martyr, 1 Apology 61-62.
Book or monograph Origen, Homilies on Leviticus 8.3.
Book or monograph Origen, Homilies on Luke 14.
Book or monograph Origen, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans 5.9.
Book or monograph Tertullian, On Baptism.
Book or monograph Theodore of Mopsuestia, Baptismal Homilies.
Book or monograph Whitaker: Documents of the Baptismal LiturgyEdward C. Whitaker, Documents of the Baptismal Liturgy. London: SPCK, 1998. Pbk. ISBN: 0281029830. xxii + 256.

Secondary Sources

Book or monograph Kurt Aland, Did the Early Christian Church Baptize Infants? Translated and with an introduction by G.R. Beasley-Murray. London: SCM Press, 1963. pp.120.
Article in Journal or Book A.W. Argyle, "Baptism in the Early Christian Centuries," A. Gilmore, ed. Christian Baptism. Philadelphia: Judson, 1959. pp.187-222.
Article in Journal or Book H.J.D. Astley, "Primitive Sacramentalism," The Modern Churchman 16 (1926-7).
Article in Journal or Book William A. BeVier, "Water Baptism in the Ancient Church, Part I," Bibliotheca Sacra 116: 462 (1959): 136-144.
Article in Journal or Book William A. BeVier, "Water Baptism in the Ancient Church, Part II: Modes of Water Baptism in the Ancient Church," Bibliotheca Sacra 116: 463 (1959): 230-240.
Article in Journal or Book William A. BeVier, "Water Baptism in the Ancient Church, Part III: Summary and Conclusions concerning Water Baptism in the Ancient Church," Bibliotheca Sacra 116: 463 (1959): 317-321.
Book or monograph Booth: Children of the PromiseRobert R. Booth, Children of the Promise: The Biblical Case for Infant Baptism. (Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing, 1995. ISBN: 0875521657.
Article in Journal or Book Paul F. Bradshaw, "Professions of Faith in Early Christian Baptism," The Evangelical Quarterly 78.2 (2006): 101-115.
Book or monograph Donald Bridge & David Phypers. The Water That Divides: The Baptism Debate, 2nd edn. Christian Focus Publications, 1998. Pbk. ISBN: 1857922514.
Book or monograph Bromiley: Children of PromiseGeoffrey W. Bromiley, Children of Promise: The Case for Baptizing Infants. Wipf & Stock Publishers, 1998. ISBN: 1579101488. pp.127.
On-line Resource Wolfred Nelson Cote [d.1877], The Archaeology of Baptism. London: Yates and Alexander, 1870. Hbk. pp.336. View in PDF format pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
Book or monograph J.A. Crehan, Early Christian Baptism and Creed. London: Burns, Oates & Washbourne, 1950.
On-line Resource Oscar Cullman, Baptism in the New Testament. Studies in Biblical Theology No. 1. London: SCM Press Ltd., 1950. Pbk. pp.84.View in PDF format pdf  [Reproduced by permission of the current copyright holder]
Article in Journal or Book Graham Dix, "The 'Seal' in the Second Century," Theology 51 (1948).
Book or monograph E.J. Duncan, Baptism in the Demonstrations of Aphroates the Persian. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 1945.
Article in Journal or Book C.M. Edsman, "A Typology of Baptism in Hippolytus Romanus," Studia Patristica 2 (1957): 35-40.
Book or monograph G. Every, The Baptismal Sacrifice. London, 1959.
Article in Journal or Book Everett Ferguson, "The Typology of Baptism in the Early Church," Restoration Quarterly 8.1 (1965): 41-52.
Sign-up to Perlego and access book instantly Early Christians SpeakEverett Ferguson, Early Christians Speak, 3rd edn. Abilene: Abilene Christian University Press, 1999. ISBN: 9780891128427. pp.33-65. [Sign-up to Perlego and access book instantly]
Article in Journal or Book Everett Ferguson, "Preaching at Epiphany: Gregory of Nyssa and John Chrysostom on Baptism and the Church," Church History 66.1 (1997): 1-17.
Book or monograph Everett Ferguson, Editor. Conversion, Catechumenate, and Baptism in the Early Church (Studies in Early Christianity). Garland Publishing, 1993. Hbk. ISBN: 0815310714. pp.435.
Article in Journal or Book Everett Ferguson, "Inscriptions and the Origin of Infant Baptism," Journal of Theological Studies, n.s., Vol. 30 (1979): 37-46.
Article in Journal or Book Everett Ferguson, "Preaching at Epiphany: Gregory of Nyssa and John Chrysostom on Baptism and the Church," Church History 66.1 (1997): 1-17.
Sign-up to Perlego and access book instantly Everett Ferguson, Baptism in the Early ChurchEverett Ferguson, Baptism in the Early Church. History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2013. ISBN: 9781467424387. pp.987. [Sign-up to Perlego and access book instantly]
Book or monograph Thomas M. Finn, The Liturgy of Baptism in the Baptismal Instructions of St. John Chrysostom. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 1967.
Book or monograph Thomas M. Finn, Early Christian Baptism and the Catechumenate: West and East Syria. Message of the Fathers of the Church, Vol. 5. Wilmington: Glazier, 1992. Pbk. ISBN: 0814653170. pp.248.
Book or monograph Thomas M. Finn, Early Christian Baptism and the Catechumenate: Italy, North Africa, and Egypt. Message of the Fathers of the Church, Vol. 6. Wilmington: Glazier, 1992. Pbk. ISBN: 0814653189. pp.256.
Article in Journal or Book Thomas M. Finn, "Baptismal Death and Resurrection: A Study in Fourth Century Eastern Baptismal Theology," Worship, Vol. 43 (1969): 175-189.
Article in Journal or Book Timothy George, "The Drama of Baptism: Testimony and Tradition in the Early Church," American Baptist Quarterly 3.2 (Summer 2018): 123-241.
Article in Journal or Book Guy, Laurie, "'Naked' Baptism in the Early Church: The Rhetoric and the Reality," The Journal of Religious History 27.2 (June 2003): 133-142.
Book or monograph A. Hamman, Baptism: Ancient Liturgies and Patristic Texts. New York: Alba House, 1967.
Article in Journal or Book Tolvo Harjunpaa, "St. John Chrysostom in the Light of his Catechetical and Baptismal Homilies," Lutheran Quarterly 29.2 (1977): 167-195.
Article in Journal or Book Lars Hartman, "Obligatory Baptism - but Why? On Baptism in the Didache and in the Shepherd of Hermas: Hans-Friedrich Weiss LXV annos nato," Svensk Exegetisk Arsbok 59 (1994): 127-143.
On-line Resource James Heron [1836-1918], The Church of the Sub-Apostolic Age. Its Life, Worship, and Organisation, in the Light of "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles"James Heron [1836-1918], The Church of the Sub-Apostolic Age. Its Life, Worship, and Organisation, in the Light of "The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles". London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1888. Hbk. pp.300. View in PDF format pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
On-line Resource J.P.T. Hunt, "Colossians 2:11-12, the Circumcision / Baptism Analogy, and Infant Baptism," Tyndale Bulletin 41.2 (1990): 227-244. View in PDF format pdf
Book or monograph J. Jeremias, Infant Baptism in the First Four Centuries. David Cairns, translator. Philadelphia: Westminster, 1960. pp.112.
Book or monograph J. Jeremias, Origins of Infant Baptism. London: SCM Press, 1963.
Book or monograph Jewett: Infant Baptism and the Covenant of GracePaul K. Jewett, Infant Baptism and the Covenant of Grace. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1978. Pbk. ISBN: 0802817130. pp.268.
Article in Journal or Book Georg Kretschmar, "Recent Research on Christian Initiation," Studia Liturgica 12 (1977): 87-106.
Book or monograph G.W.H. Lampe, The Seal of the Spirit. A Study in the Doctrine of Baptism and Confirmation in the New Testament and the Fathers. London: Longmans, Green, 1952.
On-line Resource Anthony N.S. Lane, "Did the Apostolic Church Baptise Babies? A Seisomlogical Approach," Tyndale Bulletin 55.1 (2004): 109-130.View in PDF format pdf
Article in Journal or Book Jack P. Lewis, "Baptismal Practices of the Second and Third Century Church," Restoration Quarterly 26 (1983): 1-17.
Article in Journal or Book Alastair H.B. Logan, "Post-Baptismal Chrismation in Syria: The Evidence of Ignatius, the Didache and the Apostolic Constitutions," Journal of Theological Studies 49.1 (1998): 92-108.
Article in Journal or Book Joseph Lupi, "Liturgical Symbolism in the Baptismal Homilies of St. John Chrysostom and Theodore of Mopsuestia," Melita Theologica 29.1/2 (1977): 29-42.
Article in Journal or Book Frederick G. McCleod, "The Christological Ramifications of Theodore of Mopsuestia's Understanding of Baptism and the Eucharist," Journal of Early Christian Studies 10.1 (2002): 37-75.
Book or monograph Christian Initiation and Baptism in the Holy SpiritKilian McDonnell & George Montague, Christian Initiation and Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Evidence from the First Eight Centuries, revised (September 1990) Michael Glazier Books, 1990. ISBN: 0814650090. pp.368.
Article in Journal or Book Kilian McDonnell & Daniel A. Smith," Irenaeus on the Baptism of Jesus," Theological Studies 59.2 (1998): 317-321.
On-line Resource Hugh Martin, "Baptism and the Fourth Century," Baptist Quarterly 13.8 (Oct. 1950): 370-372. View in PDF format pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
Article in Journal or Book Leonel L. Mitchell, "The Baptismal Rite in Chrysostom," Anglican Theological Review 43 (1961): 307-403.
Book or monograph B. Neunheuser, Baptism and Confirmation. New York: Herder and Herder, 1964.
Book or monograph Albert H. Newman, History of Anti-Pedobaptism: From the Rise of Pedobaptism to A.D. 1609. AMS Press, 1971. Hbk. ISBN: 040404686X.
Article in Journal or Book J.E.L. Oulton, "Second Century Teaching on Holy Baptism," Theology 50 (1947).
Article in Journal or Book Phyllis Rodgerson Pleasants, "Making Christian the Christians: The Baptismal Instuctions of St. John Chrysostom," Greek Orthodox Theological Review 34.4 (1989): 379-392.
Article in Journal or Book E.C. Ratcliff, "The Relation of Confirmation to Baptism in the Early Roman and Byzantine Liturgies," Theology 49 (1946).
Article in Journal or Book .E.C. Ratcliff, "The old Syrian Tradition and its Resettlement under the Influence of Jerusalem in the Fourth Century," G.J.Cuming,ed., Studies in Church History, Vol.2. Papers read at the second winter and summer meetings of the Ecclesiastical History Society. London: Thomas Nelson and Sons Ltd., 1965. Hbk. pp.19-37.
Book or monograph Hugh M. Riley, Christian Initiation: A Comparative Study of the Interpretation of the Baptismal Liturgy in the Mystagogical Writings of Cyril of Jerusalem, John Chrysostom. Washington, D.C.: Catholic University of America Press, 1974. ISBN: 081320531X.
Book or monograph G. Ristow, The Baptism of Christ. Recklinghausen: Aurel Bongers, 1967. pp. xxxiii + 481.
On-line Resource Clement Francis Rogers [1866-1949], "Baptism by Affusion on the Early Church," Journal of Theological Studies 6 No 21 (Oct. 1904): 107-110. View in PDF format pdf [This material is in the Public Domain]
Book or monograph D. Stone, Holy Baptism. London: Longmans. 1917.
On-line Resource Michael Strickland, "The (In)Significance of the Baptizer in the Early Church: The Importance of Baptism and Unimportance of the One Who Baptized," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 61.2 (June 2018): 355-366. View in PDF format pdf
Book or monograph G. Wagner, Pauline Baptism and the Pagan Mysteries. Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1967.
On-line Resource Ronald A. Ward, "The Semantics of Sacramental Language: With Special Reference to Baptism," Tyndale Bulletin 17 (1966): 99-108. View in PDF format pdf
Book or monograph Whitaker: Documents of the Baptismal LiturgyEdward C. Whitaker, Documents of the Baptismal Liturgy, new edn. London: SPCK, 1977. Pbk. ISBN: 0281029830.
Article in Journal or Book Robert L. Williams, "Baptism in Two Early Church Orders," Southwestern Journal of Theology 43.2 (Spring 2001): 17-31.
Article in Journal or Book David F. Wright, "The Origin of Infant Baptism - Child Believers' Baptism?," Scottish Journal of Theology, Vol. 40 (1987): 1-23.
On-line Resource David F. Wright, "One Baptism or Two? Reflections on the History of Christian Baptism," Vox Evangelica 18 (1988): 7-23.View in PDF format pdf
Book or monograph Yarnold: The Awe-Inspiring Rites of InitiationEdward Yarnold, The Awe-Inspiring Rites of Initiation: Baptismal Homilies of the Fourth Century, 2nd rev. edn.. Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1994. Pbk. ISBN: 0567292436. pp.280.
Book or monograph J. Ysebaert, Greek Baptismal Terminology: Its Origins and Early Development. Nijmegen, 1962.

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