Baptism by Immersion vs. Affusion
Plunged under the water or poured upon — one baptism, two ancient ways
This concerns how baptism is administered: by full immersion in water, or by pouring (affusion) or sprinkling. The early Didache already permitted pouring when living water was unavailable. Traditions differ: the East retains triple immersion even for infants, while the Latin West shifted toward affusion. Baptists insist on immersion, whereas Catholics and most mainline churches accept either mode as valid.
How it traveled
- The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the GreatRome · 604explains
- Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90)Paris · 1274explains
- Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic ChurchGeneva · 1564explains
Key passages(16)
Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Select Orations of Saint Gregory Nazianzen · Gregory of Nazianzus
The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Pope Gregory the Great
The Catechetical Lectures of S. Cyril · Cyril of Jerusalem
The Church History of Eusebius · Eusebius of Caesarea
The Epistles of Cyprian. · Cyprian
The Chaplet, or De Corona. · Apologetic
Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
Book Fourth. of the Holy Catholic Church · John Calvin
Treatise on the Sacraments (qq[60]-90) · Thomas Aquinas
The Ecclesiastical History of Sozomen · Sozomen
The Book of Pastoral Rule, and Selected Epistles, of Gregory the Great · Pope Gregory the Great
The Dialogue Against the Luciferians · Jerome