There are many texts that teach, at both a prima facie and secunda facie readings, baptismal regeneration. All one needs one text that, exegetically, teaches the doctrine for it to be true (e.g., Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom 6:3-7; 1 Cor 6:9-11; 12:13; Gal 3:26-28, etc). One such text is Eph 5:25-27. In v. 26, in a purpose clause in the Greek, Christ loved the Church "so that (ινα) He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word" (NASB). The majority of interpreters understand there to be, at the very least, an oblique reference to water baptism. Note the following from Protestants who reject this doctrine and, as a result, the pro-baptismal regeneration reading of the passage:
Jesus cleanses the church ‘by the washing of
water with the word’ (Eph. 5:26). This ‘washing of water’ seems to refer to a
bridal bath, common in many cultures, in preparation for a wedding. Although
many interpreters understand this as a reference to baptism, we agree with Thielman:
‘The minority of interpreters who argue that the phrase “with the water
bath” is a metaphorical reference to the cleansing power of the gospel are probably
correct’ (F. Thielman, Ephesians [BECNT; Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker
Academic 2010], 384). (Christopher W. Morgan and Robert A. Peterson, The Glory
of God and Paul: Texts, Themes and Theology [New Studies in Biblical
Theology 58; Nottingham: Apollos, 2022], 150)
These
authors have to rely on a minority of exegetes who reject the “baptism” reading
of the pericope, something they think is “probably” correct. Keep this in mind:
this is not a minor issue to be right or wrong about; we are talking the very
instrumental means of justification. Hardly something one can be unsure of.
For a full discussion of Eph 5:25-27 and how the passage teaches
baptismal regeneration, see my book "Born
of Water and of the Spirit": The Biblical Evidence for Baptismal
Regeneration (2021), 48-60 (if anyone wants a free PDF, email me at
ScripturalMormonismATgmailDOTcom)
