Task Force:
Baptism in Paul's Letters

Gregory Tatum, OP

Western Dominican Province

"Justification and Baptism"

Baptism in Paul's Letters is a one-off event initiates the process of salvation by conforming/uniting those called to the Messiah and his body. Justification is one of the word-pictures for the process of salvation (cf.. sanctification, glorification). Will look at Gal 2:15-21; Rom 2:12-16; 6:1-11; 8:28-30; 2 Cor 3:17-18; 1Cor 1:29-31.

Ronald D. Witherup, PSS

St. Mary's Seminary & University

“Baptismal Identity in Galatians as a Key to the Galatian Controversy”

Virtually all commentators on Paul’s letter to the Galatians acknowledge the importance of Gal 3:26-28 as a major passage on Paul’s understanding of baptism and the only explicit reference to baptism in that letter. What is overlooked, however, is that Galatians contains other allusions to baptism that indicate the topic is much more important to the entire Galatian controversy than is usually accepted. This paper attempts to demonstrate that Paul’s baptismal theology is in fact crucial to the entire Galatian controversy and indeed provides an essential key to understanding the letter’s profound message.