What does the Apostolic Tradition say about baptism?
By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-08
According to the treatise on the Apostolic Tradition by Hippolytus, as cited in Ce1, the work records an early, foundational practice concerning baptismal confession: Hippolytus "mentions a terse expression of faith, in the form of three questions dealing with belief in the Holy Trinity that were asked by priests during baptism." This interrogatory expression of faith regarding the Holy Trinity served as an early form of what later came to be recognized as the Apostles' Creed, which initially contained only nine clauses before undergoing expansion across subsequent generations. In contrast to this threefold baptismal questioning, Eastern churches possessed other formulas, including the confession still retained in the Coptic Church for baptism: "I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, and His only-begotten Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and in the Holy Spirit, the Life-giver, and in the Resurrection of the body. I believe in the one, holy, catholic, apostolic church, Amen."
The broader ecclesiastical setting of these rites is outlined in 1957 2 5 rodopoulos1. The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus (previously known as the Egyptian Church Order) dates from Rome at the beginning of the third century. Originating from a disciple of St. Irenaeus («St. Iranaeus»), it presents an authoritative account of the rites and organization of the Church inherited from the sub-apostolic age. Within this treatise, specific instructions are given dealing with «catechumens», «neophytes», and «Baptism», situated alongside directions for «charismata», ordinations, fasting, the Eucharist, and worship.
Furthermore, Ce1 observes that the Apostolic Tradition provided a structured "ritual of initiation" and baptismal ritual that significantly influenced later canonical documents, which borrowed and developed its texts. As noted in two thousand years of coptic christianity 1nbsped 9774247574 9789774247576, subsequent canonical collections addressing the sacrament of baptism—such as the thirty-eight canons attributed to Hippolytus—remain directly dependent on the Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus.
Sources: Ce1; 1957 2 5 rodopoulos1; two thousand years of coptic christianity 1nbsped 9774247574 9789774247576