De doop van Jezus. Een vergeten thema in de dooptheologie

Abstract

The baptism of Jesus is of marginal importance in the history of the great western churches. Generally liturgical praxis is connected with Rom 6,1-11; Col 2,6-3,4 and the first letter of Peter. Perhaps present-day interest in the scenes between birth and death of Jesus - among others in connection with the so-called christology from below and the Third Quest - will change this. Moreover, it might lead to renewal and revitalization of the way the liturgy or the rituals of baptism are viewed, shaped and experienced. In this systematic-theological contribution an explanation is sought for the fact that classical theology pays little attention to the baptism of Jesus. After that the meaning of Jesus’ baptism in gospel-traditions is viewed, how his baptism unfolds and continues to impregnate his later words and actions and how Jesus interprets his approaching death as a consequence of his baptism in Luke 12,49-53 and Mathew 10,37-40. Subsequently we plead in favor of viewing the Trinitarian context of baptism in light of a biblical background rather than the context of speculative reasoning that was called for in the fourth century. We end with some remarks about the possibility to give a new impulse to the baptism of adults and children as well.