Tuesday, December 12, 2023

G J. Steyn on the "washing" in 1 Corinthians 6:11 as a Reference to Water Baptism

  

1 Cor 6,11 απελουσασθε, γηιασθητε, εδικαωθητε εν τω ονομαι του κυριουΙησου Χριστου (salvation basedin the name”).

 

It is accepted that the phrase τν τω ονοματι του κυριου is linked with all three preceding verbs: απελουσασθε, γηιασθητε, εδικαωθητε. All three these acts are thus stated to have taken place “in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the spirit of their God”.

 

The phrase under discussion is placed here within an “earlier-now” (indicative-imperative) contrasting situation regarding the nature of the Corinthian Christians. Their purveying washing (baptism) of their sins, their sanctification and justification have taken place. One should be cautious here regarding two matters: (a) not to see a specific order of events in the three verbs as they appear in this verse, and (b) not to rush into a conclusion that the (trinitarian) baptismal formula is to be found here. What could be distinguished here is their human act of undergoing a purifying washing (aorist idle: “you washed yourselves”), and God’s acts of sanctification (aorist passive) and justification (aorist passive). The baptismal motif is clear. The washing which took place “in the name of the Lord” and the connection with the spirit underlines it. Also the sanctification motif is clear. It was found at the opening of the letter. Interesting is that both here (6,11) and there (1,2), the connection with “the name of the Lord” is to be found.

 

Implicit again, is the aspect of revelation in “the name” itself. What happens, happens “in union with” or “in connection with” Jesus Christ and the spirit. (G J. Steyn, “Reflections on TO ONOMA TOY KYIOY in 1 Corinthians,” in The Corinthian Correspondence, ed. R. Bieringer [Bibliotheca Ephemeridum Theologicarum Lovaniensium 125; Leuven: Leuven University Press, 1996], 487-88)