Singing the Gospel of Luke

This past week, the nearby university held their annual Christmas Concert. Not surprisingly, most of the music was in a foreign language and that language was Latin. The university fields several choral groups and its seems that each had one or two selections in Latin.

Weeks ago, I was discussing the upcoming concert with one of the singers, who was busy practicing his Latin selection, Regina Coeli. Our young friend was blissfully unaware that Regina Coeli translates as "Queen of Heaven". Regina Coeli is an ancient Latin Marian Hymn that is traditionally sung during evening prayers.

What I really found fascinating while listening to the evening's opening music is, that due to our location in the deep south, much of the choir was likely Baptist and likely unaware of the true meaning of the words they were singing. How many college students today have a background in Latin, particularly those with Southern Baptist backgrounds? So it was with some bemusement that I listened to the beautiful hymn having full knowledge that, outside of the concert hall, more fundamental Baptists were excorating Catholics for using the term "Queen of Heaven." The more Biblically literate know that "queen of heaven is found in both Jer 7:18 and Jer 44:19 and refers in that particular book to a pagan goddess. Not so the hymn.

As part of Regina Coeli, the group also sang the Sanctus. As more liturgical Christians know, the Sanctus is a prayer of worship which generaly precedes the consecration of the bread and wine. Again, our young singers were likely singing with little thought to the origin of the hymn. As a bit of trivia, the word sanctus, or Holy, is sung three times because in Isaiah 6:3 we find that God is thrice holy.

Later, another choral group sang a version of the Ave Maria that I had never heard before. Ave Maria being Latin for "Hail Mary", the traditional Catholic prayer to Mary, which is found at Luke 1:28 and following. The lyrics were faithful to to the Latin Vulgate Bible.

After the performance I spotted a young friend of the family who is a self-proclaimed agnostic. She remarked that the concert was like attending a Catholic mass. She had no trouble following the Latin and was fully aware of how Catholic the selections were.

Related Posts:
Perpetual Virginity of Mary
Scripture Memorization for Catholics: Prayers


Source: Regina Coeli

1611 KJV Bible Available Online

Many readers may recall my earlier post on the 1611 KJV Bible. It turns out that many CAS visitors are interested in the 1611 KJV BIble. Also most King James Only (KJO) Christians have never seen the 1611 KJV Bible and have no idea what was included in it besides the Old and New Testaments. I have found a complete copy of the 1611 KJV Bible scanned and online. This post will describe the additional 1611 KJV materials that have long since been removed or replaced. each section title is a click-able link to the scanned 1611 KJV Bible at the Schoenberg Center for Electronic Text and Image (SCETI).

Epistle Dedicatorie. This is the dedication which begins "To the Most High and Mightie Prince, James by the grace of God, King of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the Faith." On the second page, at the bottom of the first paragraph, I noted the epistle reads "...by caring for the Church as a most tender and loving nursing Father." Interesting, The KJV translators refer to James as Father with a capital "F". So much for "call no man Father" (Matthew 23:9). Seemingly, the KJV translators interpret Matthew 23:9 with a different meaning than many Protestants in this day and age.

The Translators to the Reader. This eleven page section of the KJV Bible is among the most interesting as it gives the background and thoughts by the translators on how the KJV Bible came to be. On page 7, the second paragraph starts with "Nay, we affirm and avow that the meanest translation of the Bible in English is the word of God." By meanest, the translators are saying the poorest. So the KJV translators considered even the worst translation of the Bible in English to be the word of God. Anyone with a smattering of Bible history knows that by 1611 there were dozens of English translations of the Bible. The KJV translators recognized all those translations as the word of God. So much for most of the King James only (KJO) arguments of many modern Christian sects.

The Liturgical Calendar. The Calendar consists of twelve pages with one page dedicated to each month. Each page provides the time the suns rise and falls and a listing of the corresponding readings for morning and evening scriptures and psalms for those praying the Minor Hours. Each calendar page also lists the Principal Feasts and Principal Holy Days, Festivals, and Lesser Festivals. One of the most interesting entires is on the December calendar which clearly list the 8th day as the Conception of Mary. Mary is also listed on August 15th. The translators of the King James Bible obviously had great honor for Mary and went to obvious efforts to ensure that the Mother of our Lord received the honor due her on her feastivals.

An Almanac for 39 Years. The inclusion of the almanac is interesting. It seems 39 years was chosen to provide liturgical dates until 1650, a mid-point for the century. The almanac provides the dates for Septuagesima, the first day of Lent (Ash Wednesday), Easter, Ascension Day, Whitsunday (Pentecost), and the first Sunday of Advent. The almanac also provides the Golden number and Epact for each year.

The Names and Order of all the Books. The list of all the books includes a list of "The Books called Apochrypha".

The Genealogies of Holy Scripture.

The Alphabetical Table of Canaan. This several page table cross-references names found in the Old Testament to their location in the 1611 KJV Bible.

Map of the Holy Land. The map is a beautiful two page print illustration that is located in the middle of the Alphabetical Table of Canaan.

Apochrypha. While many modern KJV Bibles omit the Septuagint writings known as Apochrypha, the original 1611 KJV Bible retained these writings. The Apochrypha continued to appear in the KJV Bible until around 1825, when both the British and American Bible Societies refused to pay publishers for KJV Bibles unless the Apochrypha was removed. The Apochrypha is making a come back and several modern KJV publishers include these books. One final note, the Apochrypha is not considered canon by just Roman Catholics, but also by the Greek, Slavonic/Russian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Syrian, and Armenian Churchs. Kevin P. Edgecomb of Biblicalia blog has published a Chart of Old Testament Biblical Canons.

Margin Notes. The translators included margin notes all through the 1611 KJV Bible. Sometimes the notes are about alternative meanings. Other margin notes are cross references to related scripture. For example, the title of this paragraph links to a magnified view of a margin note from Wisdom 2:1, an Apochryphal text. Note that the translators cited Wisdom 2:1 as being related to Matthew 22:23 and 1Cor 15:32. All three passages speak to the doctrine of the resurrection. Interesting. Finally, the hundreds of margin notes are in opposition to a modern KJO myth that the 1611 KJV Bible did not include margin notes. The photographic evidence is overwhelmingly against the myth.

I hope the above descriptions of materials that were once part of the 1611 King James version of the Bible, will inspire you to spend some time getting acquainted with this historic book. Perhaps some of you will recover the Minor Hours, observe Lent, or celebrate the festival of a favorite saint.

Source: 1611 KJV Bible

Baptists Recovering Lost Catholic Treasure of Lent

In yet another demonstration of Christ continuing to unify His Church, I read that a number of Baptist churches have begun Ash Wednesday services and are encouraging their congregations to prepare for Easter by keeping the liturgical season of Lent.

Most Baptists churches continued their tradition of focusing on scripture by starting special Lenten scripture studies:

"This year for lent we held an Ash Weds here at our Baptist Church (not a normal thing for a ‘free church’). The other unusual thing was that we held it Shrove Tues for a number of logistical reasons. It was most of our groups first experiece of ash weds and we did some further thinking around lent."

"We started a Wednesday Night Bible Study series on Ash Wednesday called Eyeing Easter. Former Baptist World Alliance General Secretary Denton Lotz wrote the material and invited his readers to take a journey of personal reflection during this "in between time" called Lent."

A few Baptist Churches went further and imposed ashes on their congregations:

"Last night during our Wednesday evening service this author introduced Ash Wednesday to our church. We first talked about the history of Lent and of Ash Wednesday and how we can use these times to strengthen our own faith and resolve to stand against Satan and the world. ...

...We talked about how other churches have priests administer the ashes, but how since we are all priests we can do this for ourselves. ...

That is what is so wonderful about being a Baptist, we are free to find a celebrate lost treasures from our Christian past and give them new meaning and life to a new generation."

Actually, what our Baptist friend, who is new to Ash Wednesday, doesn't realize is that imposition of ashes is not restricted to Catholic priests alone. Deacons and lay persons also may impose ashes on any baptised Christian. Personally, I hope our fellow Baptists will continue to recover the lost treasures thrown out by the Reformers.

My favorite quote by a Baptist minister is this one by Rev. Jeremy Rutledge of Covenant Baptist Church:

"I put my thumb into a bowl of ashes and I put the ashes on someone's forehead and tell him he is going to die," Rutledge told the Chronicle. "It is incredibly powerful."

Dude! With a quote like that, it shouldn't be too long before all Baptists ministers take up imposing ashes. Of course, not all Baptists like the idea of Ash Wednesday and Lent, as Michael at The Boar's Head Tavern can attest:

"Of course, doing the service early meant the ashes were visible all day. This prompted one of the deacons of the local Baptist church that I’ve been attending to take the opportunity to ridicule some men wearing the ashes and to ask where the priest was who did that? I’m trying to give up denominational bigotry for Lent, so no comment. Or was it dessert?"

Please feel free to share any similar happenings in your non-Catholic place of worship. Comments will be open through February.

Sources:
Weird Hippy
Danny Chisholm
Spiritual Samurai
The Boar's Head Tavern
moldova.org

Liturgical Abuse By Womenpriests

The recent Womenpriests issue by a "Catholic" magazine and the pending announcement of the formal excommunication of two Saint Louis area Womenpriests has prompted me to document my recent observations and interpretation of events.

First, the Womenpriests might could have been taken seriously and would have had a stronger case had they been more faithful to the Mass. Unfortunately, the Womenpriests have not limited their disobediance to the Church to just women's ordination but to grave liturgical abuse:

- Confecting rice cakes for communion.
- Confecting grape juice for communion.
- Use of glass vessels for the "Eucharist".
- Consecrating wine in a carafe for later pouring.

If at some future date the Catholic Church should determine that it does have the authority to ordain women, Catholics would still expect any Womanpriest to follow the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) and confect a valid Eucharist. These first priestesses have poisoned the Eucharistic well, either intentionally or accidentally.

Second, the replies of the two Saint Louis area Womenpriests don't bode well for the long term health of the womenpriest movement. Their statements regarding disassembling the ecclesiastical structure and authority of the church would turn their "churches" into Protestant-styled churches. The lack of centralized authority and ecclesiastical structure has led to the fracturing and babel of doctrines and beliefs in the Protestant world. Have these ladies studied no church history? Have they not read of the Reformation?

The one thing I find intersesting is the return of young Catholics to the traditional Latin Mass. It's quite possible that, at a future date, a formal Latin liturgy may become the primary indicator of a valid Catholic Mass. How would Catholics know that they are where they are supposed to be? A male priest in ornate vestaments with his back to you just said "Oramus".

Source: Church Ladies Be Damned, Part 2

Robert Webber Has Gone Before Us Marked With The Sign of Faith

Christianity Today reports that Robert Webber, a Bob Jones University graduate and leader in the Ancient-Future Church movement, has died of cancer. Robert is the founder of the Institute for Worship Studies in Jacksonville, Florida.

As a theologian, Robert wrote over 40 books focusing on worship and the early church. Robert is credited with being the catalyst for a renewal of patristics among non-Catholic Christians. He is reknown for The Call, a portion of which is posted below:

We call for public worship that sings, preaches and enacts God's story. We call for a renewed consideration of how God ministers to us in baptism, eucharist, confession, the laying on of hands, marriage, healing and through the charisms of the Spirit, for these actions shape our lives and signify the meaning of the world.

Thus, we call Evangelicals to turn away from forms of worship that focus on God as a mere object of the intellect, or that assert the self as the source of worship. Such worship has resulted in lecture-oriented, music-driven, performance-centered and program-controlled models that do not adequately proclaim God's cosmic redemption.

Therefore, we call Evangelicals to recover the historic substance of worship of Word and Table and to attend to the Christian year, which marks time according to God's saving acts.

The Call

We should have every hope and expectation that Robert is now worshipping God in the most ancient of ways, and how we will also one day worship God together, as described in the Revelation of John:

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

"Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

"Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"

Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore,

"they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
He will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 7:9-17

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord. And may perpetual light shine upon him.

O my Jesus, forgive us our sins. Save us from the fires of Hell; lead all souls into Heaven, especially those in most need of Thy mercy.

Amen.

Source: Christianity Today International

Campus Ministry to Close for Summer

One of the saddest events in May, for me, is the end of the Spring school semester. That means an end to the local campus ministry program until late August. Three long summer months without the mid-week fellowship that reinforces me and gets me through my week. Three months without the opportunity to come together with fellow Christians to hear and discuss the Word. Most importantly, the world loses the spiritual effects of twice-weekly group prayer for those three months.

Sponsored by a local church, the ministry serves the needs of a diverse range of students and beliefs: Baptists, Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalians, and independent Christians. Meetings start with a brief liturgy of the Word. An opening prayer, Bible readings, petitions, the Lord's Prayer, and grace. A modest meal is shared among assembled believers.

This Thursday is the last meeting. A elderly minister has agreed to visit and hold a worship service for our group, complete with Communion. Signs have been approved and posted to area bulletin boards. There is excitement beneath the surface of papers due and exams to be taken.

For the three graduates in our ministry group and the thousands of similar students graduating shortly...

Lord, hear our prayer. Amen

First Communion

While other Christians might be having trouble discerning the Eucharist, at least five children this past Sunday had no problem with the Eucharist as taught by the early Christian church.

I was feeling lazy and decided to "church hop" and attend the 11 a.m. service at a nearby inner city church. Instead of their usual hour long service, I was surprised to find that it was Communion Sunday and five of the church's children were making their first Communion.

The pastor and several adults had spent much of the past year preparing the future of Christ's Church's for this one day, when they would join Christ and the adults of the church in Communion.

The children were given the honor of reading the scriptures and psalms. They also had the honor of leading the faithful in petitionary prayer. Finally, after renewing their baptismal vows and confession of faith, the children had the honor of going first and making their first Communion. Each child received the Eucharist in the forms of both bread and wine.

While its doubtful the children could recall the name of Justin the Martyr, the early Church teachings that Justin once received, and documented in his First Apology, had made their way down through history to reside with these five chidren.

What teaching did these children receive?

"And this food is called among us Euxaristi [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh."
Justin Martyr, First Apology

I returned home strengthened in my faith because of the witness of five of the universal Church's youngest members.

Apologetics - Holy Eucharist

A Christian group blog that I monitor once a month has started a podcast series on the Seven Sacraments. Segment 2, entitled Holy Eucharist, recently went up, so I decided to listen to the whole episode.

This group of devout Christians had accessed a catechism on the Eucharist from an Episcopal website. The group would read a question from the catechism, read the written answer, and then discuss both.

It was clear in the first few moments that what promised to be a honest, open look at the Eucharist was doomed from the start. One of the first errors, which set the tone for the evening, was the attempt at defining the Eucharist by one of the non-Episcopal Christians, who used the terms "symbol" and "rememberance". These two words served as flags that selective filtering was already in place. In apologetics, this is often referred to as looking through the "glasses" or "lens" of your faith tradition. A Baptist wears Baptist lenses and sees things in a Baptist light. Similarly, a Muslim sees things through an Islamic lens.

It was also clear from listening that the group was attempting to understand the Episcopal catechism. The group knew that early Church writers had long written that the Eucharist was considered to be the actual body and blood of Christ, but the group didn't know why the early Church fathers had consistently taught that doctrine.

Passages on the Last Supper in Mark and Luke were read. Unfortunately, the discussion focused on the word "rememberance" and the conversation returned to the earlier theme of the Eucharist being a symbol. The group failed to recognize the significance of the words "Jesus said"

If you've spent any time watching the scripture memorization feature at the top of the CAS blog, you've read:

"So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11)

If you flip through Genesis you'll find numerous examples of the truth of Isaiah 55:11. Among many others, you'll find:

"Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light." (Gen 1:3)

"So the LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, "Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life." Gen 3:14

Note that "God said" and it happened. God spoke and things considered "impossible" happened. Planets were created. Life was created. Man was created. All because God said. Christians, including our podcast group, believe that all these impossibilities occured because "God said." Our God is an awesome God.

We also find examples of Isaiah 55:11 throughout the four Gospels. Among them are these well known verses:

"For Jesus had said to him, "Come out of this man, you evil spirit!" Mark 5:8

"Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:50

Note that "Jesus said" and it happened. Jesus spoke and things considered "impossible" happened. The lame cured. People raised from the dead. Sins forgiven. All because Jesus said. Christians, including our podcast group, believe that all these impossibilities occured because "Jesus said." Our God is an awesome God.

But for some reason, when our group of podcasting Christians read...

"And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body" Mark 14:22

"And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19

...they failed to note that the Lord God, in the second person of Jesus, was holding bread in His hands and SAID the words "This is my body".

Knowing that God's Word does not return void, what awesome thing, according to Isaiah 55:11 and dozens of Old and New Testament precedents, happened?

This is the reason why this particular group of Christians, and many other Christians, fail to understand the Eucharist and its centrality in Christ's Church.

A classic case of being "... in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God." (Matthew 22:29)

UPDATE (4/25/07): Its looks like Bible Truth Online is interested in anything but Bible truth. Checking the status of my comment, largely the above text, I found the following:

Comment deleted
This post has been removed by the blog administrator.
6:52 PM

Baptism by Immersion - Clothed or Unclothed?

This past week I was discussing the Christian Apologetics Society (CAS) blog with a good Baptist friend of mine. We were talking about my Easter post where I mentioned that during early church baptisms, the convert was naked before being immersed. He had never given much thought to whether one should be clothed or unclothed while undergoing baptism.

The first time I witnessed a good old fashioned Southern Baptist baptism by immersion, I was much surprised. The minister in a good suit and two ladies in nice dresses tromped out into the coffee colored waters of a typical backwoods, clay-bed creek. That always struck me as odd that everyone was fully clothed.

A few years back, I discovered while reading Cyril of Jerusalem, among others, that early Christian converts were unclothed and unashamed during baptism. The question then formed as to when did the modern tradition of man of being baptised clothed occur?

I suspect the answer lies in art. Tracing paintings of baptisms back in time, we would likely discover when the change in doctrine concerning baptism likely occured. I recall, from my years in Italy, that Renaissance churches of the 1400's had external baptistries, which are small buildings, completely enclosed as if for privacy. A baptistry would lend well to baptising males and females apart, as was also the early Christian procedure. Many paintings of the Renaissance period depict Christ and others unclothed during baptism. Could this be a projection of then current baptism practices?

So, knowing that most of us engage somewhat thoughtlessly in the baptism customs and traditions of men, passed on to us, allow me to introduce to you Cyril of Jerusalem, an early Christian Church presbytyr. Below is the full text of Cyril's famous lecture Of Baptism.

Of Baptism


Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into His death? .... for ye are not under the Law, but under grace.

1. These daily introductions into the Mysteries, and new instructions, which are the announcements of new truths, are profitable to us; and most of all to you, who have been renewed from an old state to a new. Therefore, I shall necessarily lay before you the sequel of yesterday's Lecture, that ye may learn of what those things, which were done by you in the inner chamber, were symbolical.

2. As soon, then, as ye entered, ye put off your tunic; and this was an image of putting off the old man with his deeds. Having stripped yourselves, ye were naked; in this also imitating Christ, who was stripped naked on the Cross, and by His nakedness put off from Himself the principalities and powers, and openly triumphed over them on the tree . For since the adverse powers made their lair in your members, ye may no longer wear that old garment; I do not at all mean this visible one, but the aid man, which waxeth corrupt in the lusts of deceit . May the soul which has once put him off, never again put him on, but say with the Spouse of Christ in the Song of Songs, I have put off my garment, how shall I put it on? O wondrous thing! ye were naked in the sight of all, and were not ashamed; for truly ye bore the likeness of the first-formed Adam, who was naked in the garden, and was not ashamed.

3. Then, when ye were stripped, ye were anointed with exorcised oil, from the very hairs of your head to your feet, and were made partakers of the good olive-tree, Jesus Christ. For ye were cut off from the wild olive-tree, and grafted into the good one, and were made to share the fatness of the true olive-tree. The exorcised oil therefore was a symbol of the participation of the fatness of Christ, being a charm to drive away every trace of hostile influence. For as the breathing of the saints, and the invocation of the Name of God, like fiercest flame, scorch and drive out evil spirits, so also this exorcised oil receives such virtue by the invocation of God and by prayer, as not only to burn and cleanse away the traces of sins, but also to chase away all the invisible powers of the evil one.

4. After these things, ye were led to the holy pool of Divine Baptism, as Christ was carried from the Cross to the Sepulchre which is before our eyes And each of you was asked, whether he believed in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, and ye made that saving confession, and descended three times into the water, and ascended again; here also hinting by a symbol at the three days burial of Christ. For as our Saviour passed three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, so you also in your first ascent out of the water, represented the first day of Christ in the earth, and by your descent, the night; for as he who is in the night, no longer sees, but he who is in the day, remains in the light, so in the descent, as in the night, ye saw nothing, but in ascending again ye were as in the day. And at the self-same moment ye were both dying and being born; and that Water of salvation was at once your grave and your mother. And what Solomon spoke of others will suit you also; for he said, in that case, There is a time to bear and a time to die; but to you, in the reverse order, there was a time to die and a time to be born; and one and the same time effected both of these, and your birth went hand in hand with your death.

5. O strange and inconceivable thing! we did not really die, we were not really buried, we were not really crucified and raised again; but our imitation was in a figure, and our salvation in reality. Christ was actually crucified, and actually buried, and truly rose again; and all these things He has freely bestowed upon us, that we, sharing His sufferings by imitation, might gain salvation in reality. O surpassing loving-kindness! Christ received nails in His undefiled hands and feet, and suffered anguish; while on me without pain or toil by the fellowship of His suffering He freely bestows salvation.

6. Let no one then suppose that Baptism is merely the grace of remission of sins, or further, that of adoption; as John's was a baptism conferring only remission of sins: whereas we know full well, that as it purges our sins, and ministers to us the gift of the Holy Ghost, so also it is the counterpart of the sufferings of Christ. For this cause Paul just now cried aloud and said, Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into His death. These words he spoke to some who were disposed to think that Baptism ministers to us the remission of sins, and adoption, but has not further the fellowship also, by representation, of Christ's true sufferings.

7. In order therefore that we might learn, that whatsoever things Christ endured, For Us and for Our Salvation He suffered them in reality and not in appearance, and that we also are made partakers of His sufferings, Paul cried with all exactness of truth, For if we have been planted together with the likeness of His death, we shall be also with the likeness of His resurrection. Well has he said, planted together. For since the true Vine was planted in this place, we also by partaking in the Baptism of death have been planted together with Him. And fix thy mind with much attention on the words of the Apostle. He said not, "For if we have been planted together with His death," but, with the likeness of His death. For in Christ's case there was death in reality, for His soul was really separated from His body, and real burial, for His holy body was wrapt in pure linen; and everything happened really to Him; but in your ease there was only a likeness of death and sufferings, whereas of salvation there was not a likeness but a reality.

8. Having been sufficiently instructed in these things, keep them, I beseech you, in your remembrance; that I also, unworthy though I be, may say of you, Now I love you, because ye always remember me, and hold fast the traditions, which I delivered unto you. And God, who has presented you as if were alive from the dead, is able to grant unto you to walk in newness of life: because His is the glory and the power, now and for ever. Amen.

Things to note regarding an early Christian baptism of the 300's:

- converts are unclothed
- converts are coated in olive oil
- converts are immersed not once, but three times

Questions: How did we get from Cyril to today's baptism by immersion tradition of being clothed, dunked once, and forget the olive oil? What do the Old and New Testaments say?

Source: Of Baptism, Cyril of Jerusalem

The Holiest of Nights

Our church service started after dark with the lights out. The pastor lit a single large candle representing Christ. The candle, held up in the back of the church, was the sole source of light. The single solitary flame was sufficient to cast a warm glow across the entire church. As we began lighting smaller, individual candles from this one large candle, the church became brighter and brighter. With hundreds of candles, the church was now well lit and extremely beautiful. Jesus words in Matthew 5:14 became manifest; "You are the light of the world."

Scriptures for the night started with Genesis 1 and the wonderful creation story. Then we followed with the story of Abraham, the Exodus, Isaiah 55, and finally the Resurrection story from the Gospel of Luke.

Six adults entered the Church at the service. One young lady was baptised, while five other adults, having been previously baptised in other churches, made a profession of their faith. Watching the baptism, I recalled the baptismal instructions of the early Christians recorded in the Didache:

7:1 But concerning baptism, thus shall ye baptize.
7:2 Having first recited all these things, baptize {in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit} in living (running) water.
7:3 But if thou hast not living water, then baptize in other water;
7:4 and if thou art not able in cold, then in warm.
7:5 But if thou hast neither, then pour water on the head thrice in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
7:6 But before the baptism let him that baptizeth and him that is baptized fast, and any others also who are able;
7:7 and thou shalt order him that is baptized to fast a day or two before.
The Didache, Wesley Center Online

Our newest Christian was completely oblivious that, had this been sixteen centuries ago, she would have been standing naked, soaking from her baptism. Watching the pastor apply chrism to the forehead of each, I recalled the instructions recorded by Cyril of Jerusalem on annointing with chrism.

"And to you in like manner, after you had come up from the pool of the sacred streams, there was given an Unction, the anti-type of that wherewith Christ was anointed; and this is the Holy Ghost; of whom also the blessed Esaias, in his prophecy respecting Him, said in the person of the Lord, The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me: He hath sent Me to preach glad tidings to the poor."
On Chrism, Cyril of Jerusalem, CCEL

Later, after the consecration of the bread and wine, as our newest members of the church were first to receive communion, my mind went back to Justin, who was martyred for his faith and his First Apology:

"And this food is called among us Euxaristi [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh."
Justin Martyr, First Apology, CCEL

Standing amidst the current generation of Christians, inhaling the pleasant aroma of incense, watching rituals that have been faithfully passed down for two millenia, and knowing that the same exact service is being held not just across town or in a nearby state, but world-wide, one time zone after another, one is keenly aware of the prophecy of Malachi 1:11.

"For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of hosts."
Malachi 1:11

Truely, this is the holiest of nights.