1 Even if today’s
baptism ceremony is essentially a social event, the analysis of its meaning and
of all that it entails is very important, for it is one of the basic
truths of Christian doctrine, mentioned by Paul when he writes: «Therefore, now that we have overcome the basic
teaching about the Christ, we should make progress towards maturity, without
lingering again on fundamental truths, such as the departing from the
works that lead to death, the faith in God, the instruction about
baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead
and the eternal judgment». (Hebrews
6:1…2)
2 The word
Baptism comes from the Greek term “βάπτισμα” (baptisma) and
means “immersion”. It is a word directly transliterated in other languages, like many other Greek words, as “εὐαγγέλιον” (evangelion),
or “good news”, and “Ἀποκάλυψις” (Apocalypsis),
or “revelation”.
With the passing of centuries, baptism, like other fundamental
truths, has lost its original meaning. As soon as at the end of the first
century, arose some of the concepts that would lead to the great apostasy
predicted by Jesus in this parable: «The kingdom of
Heaven may be compared to a man (Jesus) who
sowed good seed in his field. But when the men slept (when
the apostles died), his enemy
(Satan) came and sowed tares over it, and went
away». (Matthew 13:24…25)
In 51 AD, eighteen years after Jesus’ death, Paul recalls his words
and warns the disciples: «this unknown offender is
already at work, but when that which
restrains him is taken away, the offender, that the Lord will declare
spiritually dead and shall destroy at the time of the manifestation of his
presence, will reveal himself; his
manifestation is through the power of Satan, with powerful signs and deceptive
wonders to seduce through injustice all those who perish, that is,
those who have not loved the truth in order to be saved. For this reason,
God sends them a spirit of confusion, so that
they may believe in lie and be all judged for not believing what is true, taking
pleasure in what is unjust». (2Thessalonians
2:7...12)
3 When the apostles went to
sleep in death, the “sowed tares among the wheat”
by the “enemy”, grew very fast, and
few
centuries later, the divisions had dramatically increased, as we can see in the following illustration:
Today there are over 41,000 denominations within a hybrid
Christianity, and because of this confusion, baptism has completely lost its
true meaning. However, confusion comes from the many misconceptions assumed by
post-apostolic Christianity, but the Bible is very clear about its meaning and
purpose, and in no way leads to ambiguous interpretations.
Let us consider its tradition and ritual in the various denominations
of Christendom.
Extra-biblical interpretations Baptism:
4 Baptism of infants: according to
each religious denomination, children are baptized by immersion, by sprinkling,
or by infusion, under the liturgical Trinitarian formula, “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Ghost”.
Baptism by sprinkling: Water is
sprayed for three times on the baptized, “in the
name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost”.
Baptism by infusion: Water is
poured for three times over the head of the baptized, “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Ghost”. This way became popular when at the end of the first millennium,
most people chose it to baptize their children, and from the thirteenth century,
is the common baptism rite in Occident.
Baptism by immersion: this baptism
was once widespread, even if today is only used in the Syrian rite. Water is
poured for three times “in the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Ghost” on the baptized person, who after this, is
immersed in water.
Baptism by total immersion: the whole body
of the baptized person is completely submerged in water for three times, “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy
Ghost”. This is the common rite among many Baptists and Eastern
Orthodox.
5 There is no
evidence in the early centuries of Christian Congregation and on the New
Testament, of the practices described above, but Scripture clearly states that
only those who had exerted faith in Christ could be baptized. With this
in mind, we understand that the
baptism of infants could not be an accepted practice in the apostolic times. All
the baptisms recorded in Scripture are exclusively of adults; newborns and very
young children cannot understand what the faith in Christ means, cannot
consciously take the decision to obey his words or fully realize what baptism
symbolizes.
Even so, some consider that when the New Testament speaks of the
baptism of entire houses, testifies about the baptism of adults and all their
family, including children. (Acts 16:15,33; 18:8,
1Corinthians 1:16) However, the term “house or family” as used in the Bible,
obviously excludes infants. For example, when in Titus 1:11 Paul speaks
about some apostates who “subvert entire
houses”, it is clear that infants cannot be included, and when in
1Samuel 1:21...22 we read that Samuel's father Elkanah, «went up with all his family» to Jerusalem, the
next verse says that his wife «Hanna did not
go, because she said to her husband: “I
will not go up until the child is weaned”».
6 In the
beginning of the 3rd century, Tertullian (150-225) a
notable Christian apologist, censured the practice of infant baptism with these
words: «According to the condition, disposition and
age of each person, it is better to postpone baptism, especially in the case
of children... Certainly the Lord said, “Let the children come to me!”; that they come, yes, but when they grow up;
that they come, yes, but when they are in age of being instructed, when
they will be able to know who is the one to whom they draw near. That
they become Christians, but when they will be able to know
Christ». (Tertullian: De baptismo 18,
5...6)
Nevertheless, on the 5th century, infant baptizing was established as
mandatory standard. In order to comply the papal provisions, in 418 the synod of
Carthage was summoned, and in the presence of 200 bishops, eight dogmas or
doctrines, including the baptism of infants, were then established. This
same Council condemned «those who deny that
children should be baptized when they come out from their mother’s womb»,
stating that «by virtue of the rule of
faith» concerning original sin, «even the
youngest, which have not yet been able to personally commit any sin, are truly
baptized for the remission of sins, so that through the regeneration, may be
purified in them that which they received from birth». (Gian Domenico
Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum,
3, 810…815 and 4,
327)
7 Another theme
in contrast with Scripture is the name in which baptism should be
administered; the versions of
Matthew's Gospel arrived to us, make reference to a baptism in the name
of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, in sharp contrast with the
words of Peter, Paul, Luke and John. Some translators explicitly recognize that
this statement is not in harmony with the rest of Scripture, which only speaks
of baptism in the name of Jesus. Regarding Matthew 28:19, we find in one
Spanish version of the Jerusalem Bible, a footnote that we translate and
partially copy, which says: «It is possible that
this formula suffers in its accuracy of the liturgical use
later settled in the early communities. It is well known that the Acts
speak of baptizing “in the
name of Jesus”. Later, the
binding of the baptized with the three persons of Trinity could have been made
explicit...» These words cautiously admit what is already well known by
many, the fact that these words respond to an old Trinitarian interpolation.
Originally, this verse simply recorded these words of Jesus: «Poreuthentes mathêteusate panta ta ethnê en to onomati
mou» or «Go and make disciples of all
nations in my name», (Matthew 28:19) because this is how
Eusebius of Caesarea (263-339) cites it in his
Ecclesiastical History. (Book 3rd, 5th chapter, 2)
It is therefore evident that the Trinitarian text was added
later than 339 AD.
8 Now, why did
Paul use the plural in Hebrews 6:2, when he says «the teaching related to baptisms»? The
reason is that, in fact, the Bible mentions four different kinds of
baptisms:
The baptism of
John the Baptist
The baptism of
Jesus
The baptism of
the disciples of Jesus
The baptism in the holy spirit
The Baptism of John
9 Baptism played
a major role in the prophetic ministry of John, son of Zechariah and cousin of
Jesus. In fact, his preaching about baptism was so significant that he became
known among the people as John the Baptist, and for this reason Scripture says:
«In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the
wilderness of Judea». (Matthew 3:1)
His preaching should not have been unexpected to the people, who
being familiar with Scripture, awaited the arrival of the promised Messiah in
this period.
Besides, John's ministry had also been foretold by Malachi, who
proclaimed these words from God: «Behold! I send my
messenger and he shall prepare the way before me, and suddenly, the Lord
whom you ask for will come to his temple. Behold! the messenger of the covenant
that you yearn for, comes”, says Yahuh of Hosts », (Malachi 3:1)
This prophecy was totally fulfilled in John, as Luke states when he
writes: «Under the high-priests Hannas and Caiaphas, a
word from God came in the moor to John, the son of Zechariah. And he went
through the region of the Jordan, preaching a baptism of conversion for the
forgiveness of sins». (Luke 3:2…3) These words reveal the
meaning of John's baptism, it was a baptism of conversion or repentance from
sins. He «said to those coming out of crowd to be
baptized by him: “Offspring of poisonous serpents, who showed you how to flee
from the coming wrath? Bring forth worthy fruits of conversion, do not
tell yourselves: “we have Abraham for father, because I say to you that from
these stones, God can rise an offspring for Abraham”». (Luke
3:7…8)
10 So John’s
baptism was the public statement of those who with the sincere desire to
reform or convert themselves, testified their regret for having
transgressed the Law given to Moses. John's main task was to make ready a well
prepared people before God, since the purpose of John’s important mission was to
prepare the people for His Envoy, as before his birth, Yahuh's angel said to his
father Zechariah: «he shall turn towards Yahuh, the
God of them, many of the sons of Israel, and he shall walk before Him in the
spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their offspring
and of the rebel towards the wisdom of the just, in order to prepare for Yahuh a
well willing people». (Luke 1:16…17)
John was a powerful instrument in the hand of Yahuh; his words were
messages from the Creator, and he proclaimed them with the “spirit and power of Elijah”, displaying the same
charisma and energy of the ancient prophet. His ministry inspired a healthy
fear that drove sinners to examine their spiritual condition before
God, and then, recognizing to be sinners, went to John in heartache and
expressed their repentance through baptism.
11 The apostle
John write in his gospel that «Jesus went with his
disciples to the land of the Judea, and remained there with them, and
baptized», (John 3:22) however, in the next chapter we read that:
“he was making and baptizing more disciples than John,
although in fact, Jesus himself did not baptize, but his
disciples». (John 4:1...2)
Which was the sense of the baptism then performed by the disciples of
Christ? No one could still be baptized in the name of Jesus, as after his death
when Paul wrote: «We were buried through baptism
into his death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious
Father, we too are transplanted into a new life. For if we have been united with
him in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his
resurrection».
(Romans
6:4...5) So the baptism then performed by the disciples of
Jesus, obviously had the same meaning as that of John the Baptist; it was
“a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins”.
The Baptism of Jesus
12 Some six months
after John began his preaching, Jesus came to the Jordan, and asked him to be
baptized. John objected and said, «It’s me who needs
to be baptized by you, and you come to me?» (Matthew 3:14) The
Baptist knew that the baptism he bestowed was not for Jesus but for repented
sinners. However Jesus insisted, «Let it now be this
way, since it is proper for us to fulfill all that is just» (Matthew
3:15)
Why was it just for Jesus to receive baptism? His baptism was
special, it implied the voluntary acceptance of his Father’s purpose. Until
then, Jesus had probably worked as a carpenter, but it was time to start his
ministry. Describing Jesus' attitude, Paul writes: «when coming into the world,
Christ says: You have not been pleased by sacrifices and offerings, but you prepared me a body. You did
not approve burnt offerings or sacrifices for sin, so I said: “Look, I
come, in the scroll of the book it is written about me, to
perform, oh my God, your will”». (Hebrews
10:5…7)
13 So, which was
the meaning of Jesus' baptism? It was a public declaration of the renunciation
of his life on earth, in order to fulfill the salvation purpose of He who had
sent him to redeem mankind. When Paul explains God's redemption purpose through
Jesus, says: «If through the transgression of only
one man, death reigned, through only one man, Jesus Christ,
life will reign in those who receive the generous gift of
justification. And as through one single
transgression, the sentence spread to all men, through one single
act of justice, the justification that leads to life extends to all
men. And as because the transgression of only one man, many
were made sinners, because the obedience of only one man, also
many are made righteous». (Romans
5:17...19)
14 So Jesus’
baptism was unique and unrepeatable, the Baptist bears witness to this when he
writes: «I saw the spirit descending from heaven
like a dove, and it abode upon him.
I did not know him, but He that sent me to baptize in water, told me: “He upon
whom you see the spirit descend and remain, is who baptizes in holy
spirit”. And I saw it, and I testify that this is the Son of God».
(John 1:32…34)
Matthew writes that when Jesus came out of the water, «the heavens were opened to him, and the spirit of God was seen descending
like a dove and coming upon him.
And behold, a voice from the heavens said: “This is my beloved son, in
whom I delight”». (Matthew 3:16…17) What did it mean for
Jesus that the heavens were opened to him? Jesus was aware of his miraculous
birth as a human son of God, because at twelve, when being reproved for not
returning from the Temple with his family, he told his mother Mary: «Why were you looking for me? Don't you know that I must be
in my Father's house?» (Luke 2:49) But even so, he had never been
aware of his previous life in heaven as his Father’s firstborn, until “the heavens were opened to him”. And since he
knew of the life
to
which he had resigned, Jesus could well say to the Jews who often argued with
him, «verily, verily I say to you, before Abraham came
to be, I was». (John 8:58)
The Baptism of the disciples of Jesus
15 In regard with
the baptism administered by Jesus' disciples after Pentecost, it is necessary to
consider several important steps:
The first of them is the
awareness of the baptized person, about what he intends to do, because
Scripture declares that baptism should only be received
by:
Who has been taught: «Go and make disciples of all nations in my name, teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you. And look, I am with you all
days, till the end of the age». (Matthew
28:19…20)
Who believes in the kingdom of God and of Jesus
Christ: «But when they believed Philip,
who preached the good news of the things concerning the kingdom of God
and the name of Jesus Christ, men and women were baptized». (Acts
8:12)
Who converts or corrects himself: Then Peter
said, «Convert, and each of
you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ…» (Acts
2:38)
16 The second and absolutely essential in
Christian baptism, is to receive baptism in the name of Jesus
Christ. Luke says that Peter told those who asked how to reach
salvation: «Repent, and each of you be baptized in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you shall
receive the gift of the holy spirit», (Acts 2:38) and gave the
command that all those who accepted Jesus, should be «baptized in the name of Jesus Christ». (Acts
10:48) In line with these words, Jesus told his disciples: «I am the way, the
truth and the life. Nobody comes to the Father
except through me». (John 14:06)
Jesus is the only Christ, the only Messiah or Anointed of God; the
only path leading to salvation and to a life without death. God sent only
Jesus to redeem mankind' life, as Paul writes to his disciples: «you have received a call to one only hope, for you
have one only Lord (Jesus), one only
faith, one only baptism, and one only God (Yahuh) who is the Father of all, who
is above all and who works for all and in all». (Ephesians
4:4…6) So there is only one true baptism for Jesus’ followers,
that which the apostles and disciples administered in his
name.
17 The third regards the importance of being
aware of the meaning of baptism. The true Christian baptism is not a necessary
step to become a member of a Christian denomination, as many believe, but
something far more important. Jesus spoke to Nicodemus of its sense when he
said: «verily, verily I say to you, unless one is
born again he cannot see the kingdom of God... Do not be surprised that I said you
must be born again». (John 3:3,7) And Paul explains it
so: «all of us baptized in Jesus
Christ, were baptized in his
death... therefore, through baptism we were buried in his death, so
that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious Father, we too may be
transplanted to a new life»; (Romans 6:3...4 ) since
God, «made us be born again through baptism,
regenerated by holy spirit». (Titus 3:5)
In fact, he who is baptized dies symbolically with Christ when
immersed in water, and rising from it, is born again to a new life free from
sin, for he receives the gift of «God-given
justification through faith in Christ», because «the faith in the redeeming power of his blood is the basis
on which God, by his mercy,
ascribes justification». (Romans 3:22, 25) This is
why Peter tells the disciples, «Repent, and each of
you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the
forgiveness of your sins», (Acts 2:38) and comparing the
salvation provided by baptism, with the march of Israel through the Red Sea,
says: «This salvation across the water became a figure
of the salvation obtained through baptism, which is not a bath to clean the
body, but the awareness that the justification is obtained through
God, by means of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the
dead». (1Peter 3:21)
18 The forth one is to be baptized in the only
baptism that according to Scripture, symbolizes death through a total immersion
in water, in fact, Paul says: “we were buried
through baptism in his death”, and writes: «In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not
made by hands, depriving you of a part of the body, but with the circumcision of
the Christ, that is, being buried with him through baptism, and emerging
with him by means of the faith in the power of God, who raised him from the
dead». (Colossians 2:11…12)
Here below we see two early baptisteries or basins. One of them is
from the fourth century and belonged to the ancient Christian community in the
city of Shivta, on the Negev desert of Jordan, and the other is an octagonal
baptistery of the fifth century, located in the necropolis of Costa Balenae,
near Riva Ligure, in Italy.
The baptism in holy spirit
19 In the 8th
century BC, Isaiah declared these words from God: «I will pour my spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your
descendants». (Isaiah 44:3) John the Baptist pointed out that the
fulfilling of this prophecy was close, when at Jesus’ baptism, he said: «He that sent me to baptize with water, told me: “He upon
whom you see the spirit descend and remain, is who baptizes with holy
spirit”. And I saw it, and I testify that this is the Son of God».
(John 1:33…34)
His words announced a different baptism, a baptism in holy
spirit, which would be bestowed through Jesus on those who
were baptized in his name.
After being resurrected, Jesus remained forty days with his
disciples, and «while they were together, he gave them
orders not to leave Jerusalem until the fulfillment of the promise of the
Father, “about which”, he said, “I had spoken to you. For John baptized in
water, but you, in not many days, will be baptized in holy
spirit”» (Acts 1:4…5)
Which was the “promise of the
Father”? Jesus referred to what Joel foretold when he declared these
words from Yahuh: «After this, shall come to pass that
I will pour out my spirit upon all the people…» (Joel
2:28)
20 The coming of
holy spirit upon the disciples in Pentecost day, was the fulfillment of God’s
promise of through Joel; Peter confirms it when he says: «This is the fulfillment of what was said by the prophet
Joel: “And it shall happen in the last days”, says God, “that I will pour out my
spirit upon all the people…”» (Acts
2:16...17)
So the “promise of the Father” is a
baptism in His holy spirit, poured out through Jesus “upon all the people”. Peter says to the disciples:
«the promise is for you and for your offspring, and
for all that are afar, for all those whom the Lord our God shall
call». (Acts 2:39) These words make clear that the baptism
in holy spirit is for the disciples called by the Father to become the
body of Christ, as Paul explains when he writes: «Now we, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, have
been baptized through one spirit in order to form one single body,
for we have all been watered with
the same spirit» (1 Corinthians 12:13)
The book of Revelation tells us the number of the baptized in holy spirit: «a hundred and forty-four thousand who have been redeemed from the earth. These are they that follow the Lamb wherever he goes and have been acquired from mankind, to be first fruits for God and to the Lamb». (Revelation 14:3…4)
How were they redeemed? Always in Revelation, we read these words
addressed to Christ: «You are worthy to take the
scroll and to open the seals, because you were slain and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and made them for our God, a kingdom of priests to reign over the
earth». (Revelation 15:9…10) They are those whom Jesus
promised: «I prepare a kingdom for you like my Father
prepared it for me». (Luke 22:29)
21 Jesus said to
Nicodemus: «“Verily, verily I say to you, unless one
is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”. Nicodemus said to him, “How
can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's
womb and be born?” and Jesus answered, “Verily I say to you, unless one is
born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God».
(John 3:3...5) So who receives baptism, symbolically dies when he
is immersed in water, and when he emerges, receives a new life through the
spirit of God. This makes us understand that when those belonging to the body of
Christ arise from the symbolic death to a new life, are baptized with holy
spirit through Jesus, as Paul writes Titus: «Through
baptism He (God) made us be born again,
regenerated by his holy spirit poured out generously on us through Jesus
Christ, our Savior». (Titus 3:5)
22 The fact of
being born again involves radical changes in the life of the disciple; as Paul
says, «Those who belong to Jesus Christ, have nailed
their body with its passions and desires to the pole (or cross), so If we live by the spirit, let us also walk guided by
the spirit». (Galatians
5:24...25)
How can we be guided by the spirit of God? In fact, the spirit
will only guide those who are decided to walk guided by it, so the
willingness to seek and follow its guidance must be the main purpose in the new
life, if so, the spirit will help us through the precious gift of its fruit,
which God has poured into our hearts.
Paul names nine qualities of God’s spirit when he writes: «The fruit of the spirit is love, joy,
order, mercy, generosity, goodness, faith,
gentleness, and self-discipline; against such things there is no
law». (Galatians 5:22…23) But all these aspects of the
fruit of the spirit can only be manifested in our lives if we strive to remain
under the spirit’s guide, because only «those guided
by the spirit of God, are sons of God», (Romans 8:14) and Paul
says for them: «Don't you know that your body is a
temple of the holy spirit received from God? So you no longer belong
to yourselves, because you have been acquired at a high price. Therefore,
glorify God in your body». (1Corinthians
6:19...20)
The gifts of the spirit
23 The baptism in
the spirit of God allows the receiving of its gifts, but when were the gifts
bestowed through Jesus for the first time? Matthew writes that Jesus sent his
apostles to preach the kingdom of heaven, giving them authority to «heal the sick,
raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out
devils», and told them: «You have received
liberally, give liberally… because it is not you who speak, but the
spirit of your Father speaks through you». (Matthew
10:8,20)
Later, from Pentecost’s day on, the gifts of the spirit were
firstly distributed to the hundred and twenty disciples gathered in the Cenacle,
and after Peter’s speech, many of the disciples who were baptized in the name of
Jesus, received the baptism in the spirit of God as well as its gifts, which
Jesus delivered according to the needs of the Christian community. Paul says:
«There are various of gifts, yet the spirit is one...
the spirit manifests differently in each, for the common good. For example, one
is given a sapient way to express himself, while another, through the
same spirit, a cultivated language; one is given the arguments to
support the faith, and another, the gift of healing, but always
through the same spirit; one, the gift of powerful works, and another the
gift of prophecy; one is given the knowledge to interpret inspired
expressions, another, the speaking in different languages, and
another, the interpretation of the languages. But all these things are
the fruit of the one and same spirit, which distributes them on each one as he
wishes». (1Corinthians 12:4,
7...11)
24 Those gifts
were essential to confirm that after the death and resurrection of Jesus, the
situation had really changed. Jesus had foretold this fact when he said:
«Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which kills the prophets and
stones those who are sent to it. So many times I tried to gather your
children, as a bird gathers her chicks under her wings! But you were not
willing. Behold, your home is forsaken to yourselves, and I also say
that you will not see me again until I arrive, when you may say: “Blessed is he
who comes in the name of God”». (Luke 13:34…35) So God left
the unfaithful Israel to its fate and through Jesus, gave birth to a new
spiritual Jerusalem, the new people foretold by the prophets and built by all
those to whom Peter says: «You are an elected lineage,
a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people that God has acquired for himself,
in order to proclaim the excellences of Him who called you out of the darkness
to His marvelous light». (1Peter 2:9)
Yahuh says to those He considers Abraham’s offspring because of their
faith in His purpose and promises: «Now listen Jacob,
my servant Israel that I have chosen, this is what Yahuh, your maker, says: He
who formed you from the womb will help you. Fear not my servant Jacob, Yesurun
(upright) whom I have chosen, because I will
pour water on the thirsty and floods upon the dryness, I will pour my spirit
upon your seed, and my blessing on your descendants». (Isaiah
44:1…3) And Paul explains: «Abraham and his
descendants did not receive the promise to be the heirs of the
world through the Law, but through the justification that comes from
faith, because if the heirs were those who adhere the Law, faith would be
useless and the promise worthless. In fact, the Law produces judgment while
where there is no law, there is no transgression. Therefore, the promise
comes through faith, so that it can be assigned as a generous gift and be
available to all the progeny, not only to the progeny that comes from the Law,
also to that which through faith descends from Abraham, who is
thus constituted the father of us all, as it is written: “I have made you the
father of many nations”». (Romans
4:13...16)
25 How did God
confirm this change? As Paul says, «God
himself joined in bearing witness
with signs and wonders and all sorts of wonderful works, distributing
the gifts of the holy spirit according to His will». (Hebrews
2:4)
The wonderful capacities of the gifts of the spirit were needed as a
public confirmation of God’s favor over the new chosen people of the disciples
of Jesus, however, when the new Israel reached maturity, or in the words of
Paul, when the Christian congregation was no longer a child, some of these gifts
would become unnecessary. Paul says: «Love will never
end. The prophecies will pass, languages will cease and the
revelations will end, because now we know only in part, and consequently
what we preach is incomplete, but all of these will end when our knowledge
is complete. When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a
child, but growing to be a man, I removed childish behavior. Now we see vague
outlines, as in a metal mirror, but then we will see face to face. Now I know
partially, but then I will know perfectly and completely. In any case, three
things remain unchanged, faith, hope and love, and the
greatest of these is love». (1Corinthians
13:8...2)