♰ Bible Study by Abouna Arsanios Baptism Acts 8:26 to end Q: Who is the Ethiopian Eunuch? - A man with authority, - noble (official in court of Queen Candace of Ethiopia), - rich (he can afford the trip to Jerusalem), - devoted, visiting the temple, in accord with the law. - thirsty for knowledge, trying to understand the Bible, - humble, quick to admit need and accept help, inviting Phillip into his chariot. Q: When did the true faith enter Ethiopia? A: With the queen of the south visiting king Solomon, yes, but think even older than that.... A: Moses the prophet was married to an Ethiopian, Numbers 12:1 Q: Did the chariot of a wealthy man traveling through the desert have vessels of water on hand? A: It sure did, unless he wanted to perish in the desert. Q: Why therefore did St. Phillip not pray on one of the vessels and sprinkle the water on the Eunuch to baptize him? A: Because, as no doubt St. Phillip explained to the Eunuch, baptism must be by immersion in water. Therefore, the Eunuch, when he saw the body of water, asked to be baptized. Q: Can you loose the seal of the Holy Spirit? A: You can sadden the spirit. You can quench the spirit. You can blaspheme the Holy Spirit (which is not forgivable). “Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:32) Q: Is Baptism/Chrismation NECESSARY for salvation? A: Yes, Jesus said, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” (John 3:5). The Eunuch requesting to be baptized indicates the priority that St. Phillip must have placed on baptism as a pre-requisite to enter the faith. Q: Is Baptism/Chrismation SUFFICIENT for salvation? A: No. Necessary are at least: Faith, Baptism, Holy Spirit, Repentance, Communion. Q: Why should we baptize infants? A: No member of the body of Christ should be excluded from the sacraments. Jesus said “let the littel children come to me.” In the Bible, when people are baptized, the text often mentions “him and all his household” or “all his family,” meaning that there was no exclusion of any members due to age or gender. For example, St. Peter baptizes Cornelius and all his house in Acts 10-11. Also, St. Paul and St. Silas baptize the jailkeeper after the shaking that opened the prison doors in Acts 16. Q: How can an infant receive the Holy Spirit when he lacks the rational and intelligence to accept the faith? A1: Seeing that baptism is necessary to enter the kingdom of heaven, and seeing that sometimes children die before they have a chance to mature and be rational, parents baptize their kids. The body of Christ requires that the parents understand and accept the faith and that they pledge to raise their child in the faith and explain it to him. “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverb 22:6) A2: Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” A3: How does anyone know an adult is rational enough and intelligent enough to accept the faith any better than a child? Note: Next meeting is in two weeks 8/23 due to the Revival and Fast of St. Mary.