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Baptism

In early Christian theology baptism was an act that was seen to signify Christ's death, burial, and resurrection. It was believed to be the last step in the conversion process.

In Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho, written in the mid-second century C.E., the Christian apologist and philosopher Justin states that baptism is the water of life and it alone purifies the one who has repented. He goes on to say that baptism cleanses the soul of covetousness, envy, hatred and wrath and makes the body pure (Dial 14). Justin later says that baptism has nothing to do with the practice of circumcision; however he seems to imply that baptism is a form of 'spiritual circumcision' (Dial 43).

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