Tsiami Z. Baptism аnd Transgression in Early Christianity

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/lp.jvolsu.2026.1.11

Zoe Tsiam

PhD in Byzantine History, Researcher, Orthodox Academy of Crete

730 06 Kolympari, Chania, Hellenic Republic

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https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7247-7580

Abstract. The sacrament of baptism was crucial to the formation of religious identity in the early centuries of Christianity. The act of baptism has profound symbolic significance and is perceived in the culture of early Christianity as a symbol of salvation from a soteriological perspective. The aim of this article is to identify the relationship between baptism and transgression in early Christianity. This relationship was complex and multifaceted, encompassing debates about the nature of sin, the complex dynamics of religious initiation and theological controversies, and transgressiveness as a characteristic of the Fall. Baptism, one of the central sacraments of early Christianity, went beyond a simple rite of passage; it served as a profound and defining act that played a key role in the formation of Christian identity, both individual and collective. This sacred ceremony symbolized not only spiritual rebirth and renewed life in faith but also represented a solemn commitment to the fundamental dogmas of Christianity, testifying to entry into a covenant relationship with God. However, the context surrounding baptism was far from exclusively positive. In early Christian culture, this act was often viewed through the lens of warning, intertwined with warnings about crimes such as heresy and apostasy. These notions exerted a significant influence on the formation of Christian moral and social norms, creating a complex system of beliefs and practices. The complex relationship between baptism and sin in the early Christian period has become a focus of modern scholarship. These connections reveal a multidimensional reality, encompassing theological debates about the very nature of sin, the legitimacy of baptism practice, and the definition of boundaries within the Christian community. By exploring the many ways in which baptism and sin intersected, this study reveals the evolution of social norms and the inevitable consequences of humanity’s Fall into sin.

Key words: baptism, early Christianity, catechesis, transgression, Fall, Christian community.

Citation. Tsiami Z. Baptism аnd Transgression in Early Christianity. Logos et Praxis, 2026, vol. 25, no. 1, pp. 105-114. (in Russian). DOI: https://doi.org/10.15688/lp.jvolsu.2026.1.11

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