In reply to DirtDiver
The earliest of the church fathers: St Justin Martyr, Barnabas, iraneus, tertullian etc all spoke of baptism by water and the necessity of being "washed".
With that being said, there's also baptism by blood (martyrdom) and baptism by desire. I dont see why anyone would be baptized in anything but water as such a thing would be performative and call the whole desire into question anyway
DirtDiver said:
"born of water"
2 Interpretive options.
1. Born of water means baptism in water.
2. Born of water means a physical birth from a woman. (the water breaks and a baby comes out)
Which option is best supported by the context of the passage?
4 Nicodemus *said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" 5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
- Nicodemus is hearing the statement as a physical birth.
- Jesus speaks of 2 births: water and Spirit
- Jesus explains the 2 births in v6: born of flesh AND born of Spirit.
The earliest of the church fathers: St Justin Martyr, Barnabas, iraneus, tertullian etc all spoke of baptism by water and the necessity of being "washed".
With that being said, there's also baptism by blood (martyrdom) and baptism by desire. I dont see why anyone would be baptized in anything but water as such a thing would be performative and call the whole desire into question anyway