Rebaptism
Encyclopedia
Rebaptism is associated with:
What is called rebaptism is generally seen not as a repetition of a valid baptism, but as a first baptism: the earlier ceremony carried out on the person is judged to have been invalid. Thus, when a denomination rebaptizes members of another denomination, it is a sign of significant differences in theology.
In the 4th century, controversy was provoked by the Montanist sect's practice of rebaptizing Christians who had renounced their faith under persecution. The mainstream church decided that the lapsi
did not have to be rebaptized, because the sacrament of baptism was mystagogically
irrevocable.
Later on, rebaptism of Arians was deemed necessary because Arians did not believe in the identical Holy Trinity as defined by the Council of Nicea
and their baptism was therefore not in the name of the Trinity as understood by the Council.
While in modern times some Orthodox
have rebaptized Catholics, the claim that they did so in medieval times has been dismissed as a Latin
slander against the Eastern Orthodox
. Greek Orthodox practice, but not Russian, changed dramatically in 1755, when Patriarch Cyril V of Constantinople issued the Definition of the Holy Church of Christ Defending the Holy Baptism Given from God, and Spitting upon the Baptisms of the Heretics Which Are Otherwise Administered; but today even the Greek Orthodox do not necessarily insist on rebaptizing Catholics.
During the Protestant Reformation
, the practice of rebaptizing became common because of significant disagreements over infant baptism
and the belief that each believer had to be "born again" after reaching adulthood. In spite of this, many Reformed churches have renounced the practice of rebaptizing Catholics and Orthodox because of shared agreements and a common trinitarian theology.
Today, non-trinitarian
movements such as the Latter Day Saints, Oneness Pentecostal
and Jehovah's Witnesses
are among the most likely to practise rebaptism, essentially because they do not believe in exactly the same Trinity. In the case of Latter-day Saints, this is due to their claim of being the only church with the priesthood authority to perform saving ordinances.
- Anabaptism, from GreekGreek languageGreek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
ἀνα- (re-) and βαπτίζω (baptize) - Rebaptism (Mormonism)Rebaptism (Mormonism)Rebaptism is a practice in some denominations of the Latter Day Saint or Mormonism movement.The Latter Day Saints were headquartered in Nauvoo, Illinois. Many who were already baptized members of the church, were rebaptised either to show a renewal of their commitment to the movement or as part of...
in MormonismMormonismMormonism is the religion practiced by Mormons, and is the predominant religious tradition of the Latter Day Saint movement. This movement was founded by Joseph Smith, Jr. beginning in the 1820s as a form of Christian primitivism. During the 1830s and 1840s, Mormonism gradually distinguished itself... - Insistence on believer's baptismBeliever's baptismBeliever's baptism is the Christian practice of baptism as this is understood by many Protestant churches, particularly those that descend from the Anabaptist tradition...
as in Baptist traditions - Some Pentecostal churches.
What is called rebaptism is generally seen not as a repetition of a valid baptism, but as a first baptism: the earlier ceremony carried out on the person is judged to have been invalid. Thus, when a denomination rebaptizes members of another denomination, it is a sign of significant differences in theology.
In the 4th century, controversy was provoked by the Montanist sect's practice of rebaptizing Christians who had renounced their faith under persecution. The mainstream church decided that the lapsi
Lapsi (Christian)
Lapsi was the name given to apostates in the early Christian Church, when Christians were persecuted by the Roman authorities to renounce their faith. It also means those who have lapsed or fallen away from their faith and decide later in life to come back to it.-Sacrificati:Those who had actually...
did not have to be rebaptized, because the sacrament of baptism was mystagogically
Mystagogue
A mystagogue is a person who initiates others into mystic beliefs, an educator or person who has knowledge of the Sacred Mysteries. Another word is Hierophant....
irrevocable.
Later on, rebaptism of Arians was deemed necessary because Arians did not believe in the identical Holy Trinity as defined by the Council of Nicea
First Council of Nicaea
The First Council of Nicaea was a council of Christian bishops convened in Nicaea in Bithynia by the Roman Emperor Constantine I in AD 325...
and their baptism was therefore not in the name of the Trinity as understood by the Council.
While in modern times some Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
have rebaptized Catholics, the claim that they did so in medieval times has been dismissed as a Latin
Latin Church
The Latin Church is the largest particular church within the Catholic Church. It is a particular church not on the level of the local particular churches known as dioceses or eparchies, but on the level of autonomous ritual churches, of which there are 23, the remaining 22 of which are Eastern...
slander against the Eastern Orthodox
Eastern Orthodox Church
The Orthodox Church, officially called the Orthodox Catholic Church and commonly referred to as the Eastern Orthodox Church, is the second largest Christian denomination in the world, with an estimated 300 million adherents mainly in the countries of Belarus, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia, Greece,...
. Greek Orthodox practice, but not Russian, changed dramatically in 1755, when Patriarch Cyril V of Constantinople issued the Definition of the Holy Church of Christ Defending the Holy Baptism Given from God, and Spitting upon the Baptisms of the Heretics Which Are Otherwise Administered; but today even the Greek Orthodox do not necessarily insist on rebaptizing Catholics.
During the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, the practice of rebaptizing became common because of significant disagreements over infant baptism
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
and the belief that each believer had to be "born again" after reaching adulthood. In spite of this, many Reformed churches have renounced the practice of rebaptizing Catholics and Orthodox because of shared agreements and a common trinitarian theology.
Today, non-trinitarian
Nontrinitarianism
Nontrinitarianism includes all Christian belief systems that disagree with the doctrine of the Trinity, namely, the teaching that God is three distinct hypostases and yet co-eternal, co-equal, and indivisibly united in one essence or ousia...
movements such as the Latter Day Saints, Oneness Pentecostal
Oneness Pentecostal
Oneness Pentecostalism refers to a grouping of denominations and believers within Pentecostal Christianity, all of whom subscribe to the nontrinitarian theological doctrine of Oneness...
and Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jehovah's Witnesses is a millenarian restorationist Christian denomination with nontrinitarian beliefs distinct from mainstream Christianity. The religion reports worldwide membership of over 7 million adherents involved in evangelism, convention attendance of over 12 million, and annual...
are among the most likely to practise rebaptism, essentially because they do not believe in exactly the same Trinity. In the case of Latter-day Saints, this is due to their claim of being the only church with the priesthood authority to perform saving ordinances.