A symposium that unites experts from various disciplinary
From May 22 to 24, the Ateneo University Pacià (AUSP) has hosted an event of international importance: the symposium on the baptism of Jesus and the primitive Christian traditions. This congress has brought together academics and researchers from various universities in Europe, who have contributed their perspectives from fields such as exegesis, archeology and theology, thus exploring the meaning of baptism in the context of Christian life.
Collaboration between academic institutions
The organization of this symposium has been made possible by the collaboration between the AUSP, the Center for Advanced Studies beyond the Canon of the University of Regensburg, and the New Testament Chair and apocryphal of ancient Christians of the Humboldt-Universität in Berlin. This association has resulted in a series of biblical congresses that have been held every two years for the last 15 years, with the next extraordinary edition scheduled for 2024 in Rome, focusing on the New Testament and the beginnings of Christianity.
Exploring Jesus’ baptism
The symposium has been an opportunity for deep reflection on the meaning of Jesus’ baptism and its various interpretations in Christian traditions. The inaugural conference, presented by Dr. Armand Puig i Tàrrech, offered a detailed analysis of the biblical stories about baptism, emphasizing the figure of Jesus as baptized by John, as well as the theological implications of this act.
Perspectives on the experience of baptism
The experts in the New Testament, such as Dr. Juan Manuel Granados and Dr. Marcos Aceituno, discussed the figure of the apostle Paul, emphasizing that, in their letters, baptism is not simply presented as a ritual, but as an act of personal transformation through Christ. This interpretation has changed considerably among the traditions of the first centuries, thus reflecting the richness of Paulí theological thinking.
Baptism in the context of orthodoxy and heresy
The congress also examined the function of baptism in the debates between orthodoxy and heresy. Professor Tobias Nicklas identified how some authors interpreted baptism from perspectives that could be considered subordinationist or adoptionists, contrary to orthodox vision. In addition, Professor Jens Schröter studied the figure of the thinker Gnostic Valentí and his school, who conceived baptism as an anointing that consecrates Jesus as the son of God, a vision that, despite not being accepted by the apostolic Church, was relevant during the second and third centuries.
A liturgical dimension of baptism
This theological line also had an impact on the liturgy, as Professor Harald Buchinger stated. Baptism was perceived not only as an intense spiritual experience, but also as a liturgical act with well -defined ritualistic implications that endure to this day.
