LOL! if this is true, when it was first introduced in the “latter part of the second century” where was the controversy from Bible believing Christians??
the answer? there was none, because all the Church practiced it and all acknowledged its Apostolic source.
what proof does this gentleman have for his assertion?
i have the Church Fathers and the Apostolic tradition that say otherwise.
I have the Church Fathers and the Apostolic tradition that say otherwise.
Lets investigate your claim shall we ...
In time order ... who were the church fathers and their writings that occupied the church prior to 100 AD, the first century?
Answer:
1. Clement Episptle to the Corinthians
2. Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus
3. Epistle of Polycarp to the Philippians
4. Writings of Ignatius
As a Catholic, you may be totally shocked that the first three ... the earliest disciples of the apostles! ... DO NOT MENTION BAPTISM AT ALL !!
None, zero, nada ... no mention at all.
The forth father, Ignatius, who wrote many letters, and whom many letters were forged in his name ... out of the 20+ letters with his name ... He mentions baptism a few times, almost always merely quoting Eph. 4.5, but saying NOT ONE SINGLE THING about mode or about infant baptism ... nor is the concept of baptismal regeneration even hinted at.
I have personally searched through each of these writings myself and agree with the conclusion provided by BeVier:
It is most significant that in all the extant writings of Clement of Rome, Ignatius, and Polycarp—the three outstanding subapostolic fathers—there is no mention whatsoever to water baptism in any form. This is not to say that they did not believe in or practice water baptism, but it is indicative that they did not lay the great stress on the ordinance that was present in the later fathers. This is clear evidence that these who were taught by the apostles themselves put no emphasis on any particular mode, but they did at the same time stress many other doctrines in their epistles. We undoubtedly should learn much from these early pupils of Peter, Paul and John and at the same time save ourselves and those about us a lot of time, effort, and ill feeling wasted on that which is not vital.
From: William A. BeVier, "Water Baptism in the Ancient Church, Part I," Bibliotheca Sacra 116: 462 (1959): 136-144.
Recall that by AD 95, the writing of the Revelation to John, Jesus Christ rebuked all but one of the seven churches! By 100 AD the church had already "lost its first love" ...
This romanticism that the RCC has with the early fathers has led to all manner of errors ...
I pray that the eyes of your understanding would be opened ...