Dr. Michael Peppard

Yeah, so there's different traditions that emerge kind of regionally. So I always try to take a regional approach to early Christianity because what's happening on the Euphrates River in Syria is different than what's happening in Rome. They're not communicating all that much at this time period about this kind of stuff.

Yeah, so there's different traditions that emerge kind of regionally. So I always try to take a regional approach to early Christianity because what's happening on the Euphrates River in Syria is different than what's happening in Rome. They're not communicating all that much at this time period about this kind of stuff.

But it certainly was more democratic than the Catholic Church is now for these kind of things. Like even in, you know, even in into the third and fourth century, you know, people are kind of raised up from within the community. You know, we lay our hands on the person that we think is the best leader. We lay our hands on the person that we think is the best leader.

But it certainly was more democratic than the Catholic Church is now for these kind of things. Like even in, you know, even in into the third and fourth century, you know, people are kind of raised up from within the community. You know, we lay our hands on the person that we think is the best leader. We lay our hands on the person that we think is the best leader.

or interpreter of scripture, um, or can kind of keep the community together. And then there are, there are rights that emerge. We have some evidence from the late 300s is probably where we get our first textual evidence.

or interpreter of scripture, um, or can kind of keep the community together. And then there are, there are rights that emerge. We have some evidence from the late 300s is probably where we get our first textual evidence.

Um, well, late 200s, sorry, late 200s, you know, our first textual evidence of the sorts of things that might be said when someone is, um, laid hands or ordaining really just at first means like someone's hands are laid on someone else and they're prayed over and they're, They're acknowledged as a leader. But, you know, it does build a bit from there.

Um, well, late 200s, sorry, late 200s, you know, our first textual evidence of the sorts of things that might be said when someone is, um, laid hands or ordaining really just at first means like someone's hands are laid on someone else and they're prayed over and they're, They're acknowledged as a leader. But, you know, it does build a bit from there.

At the beginning, the terms are deacons, elders, and bishop or overseer, episkopos. And then, like I said, the priest term doesn't really come in until the third century, until this moment of crisis.

At the beginning, the terms are deacons, elders, and bishop or overseer, episkopos. And then, like I said, the priest term doesn't really come in until the third century, until this moment of crisis.

So confirmation is a relatively late, late emerger, but it really becomes necessary when infant baptism becomes the norm. So if you think it's really that's the problem it's solving. So if you think about the first 300 years of Christianity, it's still primarily a conversion religion. It's growing through adult converts.

So confirmation is a relatively late, late emerger, but it really becomes necessary when infant baptism becomes the norm. So if you think it's really that's the problem it's solving. So if you think about the first 300 years of Christianity, it's still primarily a conversion religion. It's growing through adult converts.

And so you have adult converts who are learning and then eventually being baptized and being initiated through rites of initiation, which include more than baptism, by the way. My second book, I talk a lot about that, the other rites that are involved. But we do have some evidence of infant baptism from very early on. But you can imagine as Christianity then becomes the

And so you have adult converts who are learning and then eventually being baptized and being initiated through rites of initiation, which include more than baptism, by the way. My second book, I talk a lot about that, the other rites that are involved. But we do have some evidence of infant baptism from very early on. But you can imagine as Christianity then becomes the

Even if it's not the majority, a very, very large presence, then you start having large families that have children and infant baptism becomes more of the norm. So when you have that, then what do you do with the kind of coming of age into adulthood when someone grows up and they're like, well, I didn't really choose this and I don't know what I think about it all.

Even if it's not the majority, a very, very large presence, then you start having large families that have children and infant baptism becomes more of the norm. So when you have that, then what do you do with the kind of coming of age into adulthood when someone grows up and they're like, well, I didn't really choose this and I don't know what I think about it all.

Because I didn't learn it as an adult. And so confirmation is just a word that means strengthening, you know, to strengthen one's commitment, strengthen one's faith. And so it's primarily relating to infant baptism.

Because I didn't learn it as an adult. And so confirmation is just a word that means strengthening, you know, to strengthen one's commitment, strengthen one's faith. And so it's primarily relating to infant baptism.

So typically you get baptized and confirmed in the same, either in the same rite, like the same day or within a very short period of time.

So typically you get baptized and confirmed in the same, either in the same rite, like the same day or within a very short period of time.