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Who was baptized twice in the bible?
Christian theology places great emphasis on baptism as a symbol of spiritual rebirth, purification, and admittance into the Christian community. I am asked interesting questions all the time as a pastor, and one that really gets people thinking is, “Who was baptized twice in the Bible?” Through a biblical investigation, we will discover who was baptized twice in this blog post. Accompany me as we decipher this singular story and extract lessons from the holy texts.
Biblical Accounts of Baptism:
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- John’s Baptism of Repentance:
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- In the New Testament, the ministry of John the Baptist serves as a precursor to the public ministry of Jesus.
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- Mark 1:4 (NIV): “And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
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- John’s baptism was a symbolic act signifying repentance and a turning away from sin.
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- Christian Baptism:
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- After the resurrection of Jesus, Christian baptism emerged as a sacrament, representing identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection.
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- Matthew 28:19–20 (NIV): “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
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- Christian baptism, as commanded by Jesus, became a significant rite within the early Christian community.
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- Christian Baptism:
Identifying the Individual:
Now, let’s delve into the intriguing case of an individual who experienced baptism twice:
1. Apollos:
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- Acts 18:24–26 (NIV): “Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was a learned man with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervour and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.”
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- Apollos, an eloquent and knowledgeable speaker, was well-versed in the Scriptures and taught about Jesus accurately. However, his understanding of baptism was limited to John’s baptism.
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- Acts 18:27-28 (NIV): “When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah.”
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- Apollos’ journey doesn’t end with his knowledge gap. Upon receiving further instruction from Aquila and Priscilla, he expands his understanding to encompass Christian baptism.
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- Acts 18:18 (NIV): “Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters and sailed for Syria, accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae because of a vow he had taken.”
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- Paul’s subsequent ministry emphasizes the importance of receiving the Holy Spirit after baptism, reinforcing the distinctiveness of Christian baptism.
Understanding the Significance:
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- Transition from John’s Baptism:
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- Apollos’ story sheds light on the transitional period between John’s baptism of repentance and the fuller understanding brought by Christian baptism.
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- Acts 19:1-6 (NIV): “While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus… They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.”
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- Paul encounters a group of disciples in Ephesus who, like Apollos, had received John’s baptism but were not aware of the Holy Spirit. After Paul imparts the full message of Jesus, they are baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
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- Transition from John’s Baptism:
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- The Completeness of Christian Baptism:
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- Christian baptism, as practiced by the early church, represents a comprehensive identification with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
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- Romans 6:3–4 (NIV): “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
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- The apostle Paul’s teachings emphasise the transformative nature of Christian baptism, symbolising a burial of the old self and rising to new life in Christ.
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- The Completeness of Christian Baptism:
Note:
Apollos offers a unique insight into the stages of growth within early Christian society because he was baptized both by John and by Christians. His narrative serves as an example of how preliminary rites gave way to a deeper comprehension brought about by Paul and the apostles’ work.
Let this fascinating biblical story serve as a reminder of the depth of our Christian heritage and the significance of a comprehensive understanding of baptism as we consider it. As established by Jesus and carried out by the early church, Christian baptism is a deep spiritual journey that connects believers to the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour. Read other related posts. You can also watch our sermons on YouTube.
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