An Eastern Orthodox Theology Of Baptism

In the Orthodox churches, baptism is understood principally by means of scriptural language: baptism marks an infant's or an adult's repentant turning away from Satan and toward Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. It begins the process of salvation and growth toward participation in the divine nature. The Orthodox Christian doctrine of holy baptism stems from the teachings of the Holy Scriptures. Christ instructed his apostles to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:18). Thus the Orthodox always baptize in the name of the Holy Trinity. In his answer to those who asked how they should respond to the gospel at Pentecost, Peter told them that they must "repent and be baptized" (Acts 2:38). Consequently, the Orthodox church has always viewed baptism as a part of the repentance that begins the Christian life. Through baptism the believer dies to sin and rises again to a new life in Christ. Paul wr…