Date

8-2020

Department

School of Music

Degree

Doctor of Worship Studies (DWS)

Chair

Jerry L. Newman

Keywords

Baptism, Lord's Supper, Jewish Origins, Passover, Ordinances

Disciplines

Christianity | Liturgy and Worship | Religion | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

The modern evangelical denominations have worship services that include many forms of worship and functions to bring the worshiper into communion with the living God as a disciple of Christ. These worship forms include the two ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Generations of denominational congregants have participated in these ordinances with little knowledge of the origin of these two rites. This qualitative historical study focuses on the roots of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper formed within Christianity during the early church years. Using research from Christian and Messianic Jewish scholars along with Jewish sources, this study will strive to uncover the foundations of these ordinances within second-temple Judaism and discover how these rites find renewal and purpose in Christianity. This work will help form a foundation for the Church to gain a greater understanding of the Jewish roots of our faith as the study reveals why the Lord’s Table contains the elements present in Communion. This work will also reveal the original mode of baptism and practice based on Jewish practice and tradition used during the time of John the Baptist and Jesus. Finally, this research will exhort churches to explore deeper meanings found in the Gospels and Writings of the Apostles surrounding these festival and priestly practices from Judaism as the Body of Christ celebrate their renewal in Christ-centered worship.

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