洗礼探源

THE ORIGIN OF BAPTISM

洗礼(Baptism)是基督教两大圣礼之一,也常被称为基督教的入门礼。由耶稣基督亲自设立并吩咐历世历代的教会都要施行。因此,从古至今,洗礼一直是教会生活中最为重要的一环。洗礼之所以在古今教会中被如此重视和严格地施行,乃缘于它所蕴含的丰富意涵。洗礼不只是一个外在的举动,它不仅标志着受洗人跨入了基督教的大门,还代表着受洗人经历了基督的死、葬、生以及与上帝的联合,然后开始全新的、“披戴基督”的生活。洗礼还是一种认罪,宣信的举动,在上帝面前立志认罪悔改,在众人面前见证, 宣告自己的信仰。所以,洗礼就成了教会实践生活中一件不可或缺的至要圣礼,也是效法基督榜样的一种行动。既然洗礼如此重要,就决定着明白它起源的必要。本文就是以此路线进行展开和探索,通过几种可能与基督教有关联的水礼进行辨析,理顺基督教圣礼的发展轨道。

Baptism is one of the two sacraments of Christianity and is often called the entrance sacrament. Jesus set up the baptism in body and he instructed that Churches of all generations later should perform it. Thereby, ever since the ancient time, baptism has been regarded as the most important part of church life. The reason why the baptism was attached to so much importance and implemented so strictly in ancient and contemporary churches lies in its rich implications. Baptism is not only an exterior action, but also marks that the person being baptized has entered the gate of Christianity. It also represents that the believers are united with God after their experience of death, bury and rebirth. They start a totally new life, a life which °∞ooput on Christ°±. Baptism is also an action to confess their sin, determine to repent before God and declare their belief before the masses. In such a way, baptism has become a necessary and crucial sacrament in church practice life and also a deed did to imitate Jesus. As baptism is of such importance, it is necessary to know how it originated. This article will develop and explore its origin by this route, differentiate and analyze several water sacraments that might be related to Christianity, and make clear the development of Christian sacraments.