“Up until Augustine’s day baptism was always a mystery.”
Where did you get this idea? The Ante-Nicene Fathers as well as the Didache, the Shepherd of Hermas and other early writings speak quite specifically of real water, like the stuff we drink.
“Augustine, in one of his works, talks about the problems they had in trying to figure out the meaning of baptism.”
Probably because he couldn’t read Greek.
Where did you get this idea? The Ante-Nicene Fathers as well as the Didache....speak quite specifically of real water, like the stuff we drink.
Obvious even from Augustine's writings baptism wasn't well thought out. For example, Augustine talks about baptizing an unbeliever who laid feverously, near death. He was also unclear as to where unbaptized infant go when they die. (Are you prepare to agree with Augustine they go to hell if they're not baptized?) It is clear that as late as the 4th century, the Church was trying to determine the meaning of baptism. Meanwhile, while all the theologians were contemplating the meaning, all of us Baptists were down by the river dunking those we could get out hands on. ;O)
Probably because he couldn’t read Greek.
Hmmmm....maybe that was to his credit. :O)