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Brown, J.A.

English

All language is not of the same kind, and the mode
of examining any piece of literature must be suited to
the type of language in that literature. Therefore,
when a biblical writer such as Paul uses metaphorical
language, a right understanding of his meaning can only
follow from a study which employs the rules and procedures
appropriate to that type of language.

The introductory chapters explain what is meant
by metaphor, and show how the metaphorical way of thought,
a process of interpreting the new from the old, has a
generally'basic role for mankind. Therefore it is a
perfectly proper form of language, and certain principles
must apply when it is encountered. Particular dam ge
has been done in the past by failure to perceive metaphorical
language, or to interpret it properly. Rules
and procedures are given for such study, some of which
are of a general nature while others are especially
relevant to our study.

Seven. passages in which Paul speaks of baptism are
then individually examined, Rom. 6: 3; Gal. 3: 27; Col. 2: 12;
1 Cor. 1: 13; 10: 2; 12: 13; 15: 29. In each case the task
of establishing the status of the language is done.
When this reveals metaphorical language the rules previously
stated are then applied to the passage in question.
This shows the structure of the metaphor(s) in each
case, and this helps towards understanding the 'picture'
Paul was seeking to evoke. One passage (1 Cor. 15: 29)
did not contain metaphorical language in the reference
to baptism, although it was possible that an understanding
of the metaphorical nature of the context could
help towards the interpretation of that literal
reference to baptism.

A brief study of the baptismal references in Acts
follows to show something of the difference between
the language used there about baptism compared to that
in the Pauline material.
The conclusion states that Paul's language about
baptism is almost solely metaphorical, that half of
the metaphors took virtually the same form, and that
the others evoked much the same picture. That picture
was of an immersion into Christ -a union, a oneness
with Christ coming about in baptism. But while such
union with Christ was expressed in each metaphor (and
might therefore be called Paul's super-model of baptism),
the implications of the union varied from passage to
passage, making an all-embracing description of that
union misleading.

An appendix explains why certain other passages,
held by some to be baptismalf are not studied here

Metaphorical language in relation to baptism in the Pauline literature

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