What Does the Didache Say About Baptism?
1. Baptism in the Context of the Didache
The Didache is one of the earliest Christian writings outside of the New Testament, offering a window into the practices of the early church. Among its topics, baptism receives focused attention in chapter 7. Unlike speculative or mystical writings, the Didache presents baptism as a practical and essential act of obedience to Christ, shaping the community’s identity as the people of God.
Baptism is presented not merely as a ritual but as a defining entrance into the life of the church. The Didache ties baptism to moral instruction, to worship, and to ongoing faithfulness. Just as the Bible presents baptism as part of discipleship and obedience to Jesus (Matthew 28:19), the Didache emphasizes baptism as central to Christian initiation and the lived reality of the Gospel.
2. Instructions for Baptism in the Didache
The Didache offers specific directions: baptisms should be performed “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” echoing the words of Jesus in Matthew 28:19. The preference is for “living water”—that is, flowing water like a stream or river. If living water is not available, other water sources may be used. Immersion is preferred, but pouring water over the head three times is also permitted when circumstances demand.
This flexibility shows the pastoral concern of the Didache. It recognizes that conditions vary but insists that baptism must be done in the triune name. The heart of baptism is not in the mechanics of water but in obedience to Christ and incorporation into his covenant people.
3. Fasting and Preparation for Baptism
The Didache also instructs both the one being baptized and the one performing the baptism to fast beforehand, along with others in the community if possible. This reveals a serious preparation for baptism as a spiritual act. Baptism is not casual or automatic; it is tied to repentance, prayer, and readiness of heart.
The Bible also emphasizes repentance and preparation for baptism. John the Baptist called people to repent before they were baptized in the Jordan (Mark 1:4–5). Similarly, the Didache highlights that baptism is not just a formality but a decisive step into the way of life, requiring humility and submission to God.
4. Baptism as Entry into the Community
In the Didache, baptism is closely linked to joining the community of believers. McGowan has argued that baptism “actually created membership in this distinct community and offered participation in its benefits.” The Didache reflects this understanding: once baptized, a believer is fully part of the worshiping, teaching, and serving body of Christ.
This parallels the Bible’s teaching. In Acts 2:41, those who received Peter’s message were baptized, and they were immediately added to the church. Baptism marks the boundary between the old life and the new, signifying inclusion in the covenant family of God.
5. Baptism and the Two Ways
The Didache begins with its “two ways” teaching: the way of life and the way of death. Baptism is the visible act of choosing the way of life. By entering baptism, the believer is rejecting idolatry, immorality, and the way of death, and embracing the way of Christ.
This echoes the biblical vision. Paul describes baptism as dying and rising with Christ: “We were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead… so we too may walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). Baptism is the boundary marker of this decisive change. The Didache reinforces this by placing baptism within the context of discipleship and holiness.
6. Baptism and the Name of the Trinity
The Didache’s instruction to baptize “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” confirms the early church’s Trinitarian faith. Even in this simple church manual, the triune name is essential, not optional. Baptism is not merely about cleansing from sin but about being united with the God who reveals himself as Father, Son, and Spirit.
This aligns perfectly with the Bible. Jesus commands baptism in the triune name (Matthew 28:19), and the apostles consistently baptize in the authority of Christ (Acts 10:48). The Didache shows that early Christian communities obeyed this command and guarded the confession of the triune God through baptismal practice.
7. Baptism and the Gospel
The Didache views baptism not as a mere ritual but as participation in the Gospel itself. To be baptized is to confess faith in Jesus, to enter into his death and resurrection, and to receive new life. This reflects the Bible’s teaching that baptism symbolizes union with Christ (Galatians 3:27).
Baptism reflects the fullness of God’s kingdom purposes. It marks entry into the covenant community that lives under Christ’s kingship. It is both personal and communal, both a sign of salvation and a call to faithful living until Christ returns.
8. Baptism and the Hope of the Future
The Didache connects baptism to eschatology, though indirectly. Those who are baptized and walk in the way of life are the ones prepared for the coming of the Lord. Baptism is the beginning of a journey that culminates in resurrection and eternal life.
The Bible likewise ties baptism to future hope. Paul writes, “If we died with him, we will also live with him” (2 Timothy 2:11). Baptism points forward to the final renewal of all things, when those united with Christ will share in his glory. The Didache’s baptismal teaching thus reinforces a hope that stretches beyond the present into the kingdom to come.
Conclusion
The Didache’s teaching on baptism highlights its importance as obedience to Christ, entry into the church, preparation for holy living, and anticipation of eternal hope. Baptism is grounded in the triune name, tied to repentance and fasting, and open to practical adaptation while never losing its theological core.
The Didache shows how the early church understood baptism in continuity with the Bible: as the decisive sign of belonging to Christ and his people. For modern readers, it reminds us that baptism is not an empty form but a Gospel act that unites believers to Christ, calls them to holiness, and prepares them for the day of the Lord.
Bible Verses About Baptism
Matthew 28:19, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 1:4, “John came baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
John 3:5, “Jesus answered, ‘Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.’”
Acts 2:38, “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’”
Acts 22:16, “And now, why are you delaying? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.”
Romans 6:4, “Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.”
Galatians 3:27, “For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.”
Ephesians 4:5, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.”
Colossians 2:12, “When you were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”
1 Peter 3:21, “Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a good conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
