The Didache on Baptism
The Didache (short for “The Teaching”) is an anonymous document of the early church and generally dated during the late first or second century AD. One of the major sections of the work (6.3-15.4) deals with issues of local church government and practices. Chapter 7 of the document pertains to baptism:
Now concerning baptism, baptize as follows: after you have reviewed all these things, baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit in running water. But if you have no running water, then baptize in some other water; and if you are not able to baptize in cold water, then do so in warm. But if you have neither, then pour water on the head three times in the name of the Father and Son and Holy Spirit. And before the baptism let the one baptizing and the one who is to be baptized fast, as well as any others who are able. Also, you must instruct the one who is to be baptized to fast for one or two days beforehand. [7.1-4]
[The Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations, 3rd edition, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007]
I don’t have much to say about this passage, other than to say that it is much more consistent with credobaptism as opposed to paedobaptism. Do you know what happens when you don’t feed an infant? Intolerable screaming.
Just to be provocative . . . that passage from the Didache may support credobaptism, but doesn’t it also slightly downplay the significance of mode? Apparently in the ecclesiological tradition represented by the document pouring was an acceptable alternative to immersion. Does this imply that they thought the subject of baptism was more important than the mode of baptism?