Dimensions of Baptism Biblical and Theological Studies

WATTS Baptism and the Hiddenness of God 273

Barth is not without his critics. One of the more interesting observa-

tions, made by Jenson, suggests that by appropriating the hiddenness by

which God maintains his deity uniquely to the Father, Barth is guilty of a

subtle subordinationism—a rather ironic criticism given the often repeated

charge of modalism.^11 Barth can usually be defended on this point, but

Jenson's criticism here seems apposite. Our specific concern is to see how

this relates to Barth's understanding of baptism.

Barth's latest and most thorough comments on baptism are found in the

fragment of the final part of his doctrine of reconciliation. Here Barth

radically separates baptism with the Holy Spirit from baptism in water.

Christian life is made possible only in union with Christ; this change takes

place both outside us and within us. Through the Holy Spirit, the death and

resurrection of Christ becomes present to us and for us and is thus the

event of our renewal. 'Baptism with the Spirit is effective, causative, even

creative action on man and in man.'^12 It is the reality of this baptism with

the Spirit which is the prerequisite for baptism in water, which is seen as a

human response of obedience. Baptism with the Spirit is an act of God;

baptism in water is a human act made in response to the prior act of God.

Baptism with water receives its significance from baptism with the Spirit

and is ineluctably related to it, but in itself remains an entirely human

act.^13

Barth then considers the place of infant baptism, arguing that this does

not reflect authentic biblical teaching. He finds no support for Luther's

notion of infant faith, suggesting that the rite of confirmation serves to

offer the strongest critique of such practice: in short 'the personal faith of

the candidate is indispensable to baptism'.^14 In Barth's view, the best argu-

ment for infant baptism is that it clearly and graphically represents the

grace of God. Yet while this may be a powerful picture, he maintains that

it is not the proper understanding of baptism.

11. Jenson, 'The Hidden and Triune God', p. 8.


12. Barth, Church Dogmatics, IV/4 (trans. G.W. Bromiley, Edinburgh, T. & T.
    Clark, 1969), p. 34.


13. See Barth, Church Dogmatics, IV/4, pp. 42-49.


14. Barth, Church Dogmatics, IV/4, p. 186. It is interesting, given our later use of
    Robert Jenson's insights on the hiddenness of God, that in his Systematic Theology he
    describes the third- and fourth-century separation of confirmation from baptism as part
    of a 'general dismantling of baptism's structure'. Robert Jenson, Systematic Theology,
    II (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999), p. 261.