IN THE NAME of OUR LORD

Four Models of the Relationship between Baptism, Catechesis, and Communion

JONATHAN D. WATSON

STUDIES IN HISTORICAL AND SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

In the Name of Our Lord: Four Models of the Relationship between Baptism, Catechesis, and Communion

Studies in Historical and Systematic Theology

Copyright 2021 Jonathan D. Watson

Lexham Academic, an imprint of Lexham Press

1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225

LexhamPress.com

All rights reserved. You may use brief quotations from this resource in presentations, articles, and books. For all other uses, please write Lexham Press for permission. Email us at permissions@lexhampress.com.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are the author’s own translation or are from the New American Standard Bible® (nasb). Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Print ISBN 9781683594918

Digital ISBN 9781683594925

Library of Congress Control Number 2021933811

Lexham Editorial: Todd Hains, Claire Brubaker, Danielle Thevenaz

Cover Design: Bryan Hintz, Brittany Schrock

This book is dedicated to Karen,

my excellent wife, my love,

whose love, care, and faithfulness are nothing short of praiseworthy,

and to Emma, Abby, Nathan, and Jude,

precious gifts from the Lord,

and to my parents, Ron and Janis Watson,

whose love for the Lord and for his Word

led me to Christ and catechized me to walk in the truth (3 John 4)

CONTENTS

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Abbreviations

1. Mapping Diverse Patterns of Initiation

2. Constructing the Explanatory Framework

Baptism Model

Catechesis Model

3. Retrospective Model

4. Prospective Model

5. Discerning a Theological Catalyst

6. Pastoral and Ecclesial Implications

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

Bibliography

Subject Index

Scripture Index

FOREWORD

HOPE FOR THE LOGIC OF LITURGY

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him (Rom 8:16–17 ESV).

When thoughtful Christians from one tradition encounter other thoughtful Christians from other traditions, they experience spiritual unity alongside cognitive dissonance. The Holy Spirit—who gives new birth—is clearly evident, but important aspects of Christian theology and life are seen in apparently irreconcilable ways. This conundrum is notable among those who understand the administration of baptism in radically different ways vis-à-vis catechesis and Communion. It is also noticeable when individual traditions begin to surrender their own liturgical coherence.

Important questions begin to appear during the inevitable process of discovery once a maturing Christian begins to think on these matters: How did we arrive at this enigma of ecclesiological dissolution? What are the structures of thought which may enable genuine believers to worship again with integrity? How can we find a way through ...