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>Hi All
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>I am looking for comments on the Greek construction of Acts 2:38.
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>Specifically the relation between 'repent' and 'be baptised'. Are they two
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>equal commands?
The greek is:
METANOHSATE, [FHSIN,] KAI BAPTISQHTW hEKASTOS hUMWN EPI TWi ONOMATI IHSOU
XRISTOU EIS AFESIN TWN hAMARTIWN hUMWN
I'm not sure just what you are getting at by "equal commands" but METANOHSATE
and BAPTISQHTW are both aorist imparatives conjoined by KAI and so would seem
to be equal to me.
>Also the 'for the remission of sins'. Does this mean that
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>the baptism remitted the sins?
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In my opinion, EIS AFESIN TWN hAMARTIWN hUMWN is to be taken with
METANOHSATE...KAI BAPTISQHTW...EPI TWi ONOMATI IHSOU XRISTOU (which last
phrase, from BAPTISQHTW to XRISTOU, I translate together as a unit thus: "be
baptized in the name of Jesus Christ). In other words, these two things
being done (i.e., I repent and am baptized in the name of Jesus Christ), the
result (indicated by EIS...hUMWN) is that my sins are forgiven.
This is probably not the place to get into a discussion of whether baptism (a
la Luther) is a part of the gospel and thus a means by which God gives the
Holy Spirit, works forgiveness of sins and gives everlasting life (as I
believe) or a part of the Law (a la the more radical reformers) and so is the
first act of obedience which the believer performs in turning away from the
world and committing himself to the Lord so I won't bring it up. (Oops, I
just did. Well, please address all flames to me NOT to the group as a whole)
The ONLY reason I bring this up is that, whether one understands baptism to
remit sins or not is more a matter of belief than of the text (at least of
this particular text) which really is a matter for another (not this) forum.
As I read the text, however, I would have to say: yes, coupled with
repentance, baptism remits sins. Not everyone would agree with me and I would
be interested to see how other people read and interpret this text (without
degenerating into a battle between sacramentarians and non-sacraentarians).
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>Thanks in Advance
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>Matt Bell
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