Church History
Teachers
Lesson Summary
The class began with an overview of the term “sacrament,” explaining that it derives from the same root as “sacred” and denotes a formal act set apart to convey divine grace. Art Clark described the two New‑Testament sacraments—baptism and the Lord’s Supper—and traced how, by the 7th century, the Western church recognized seven such rites, adding confirmation, confession, marriage, holy orders, and anointing of the sick. He emphasized that medieval theologians argued these additional sacraments were instituted by Christ or the apostles, even though explicit biblical support was lacking. Clark then compared infant baptism to Jewish circumcision, noting the parallel of a covenant sign applied to children. He explained confirmation as a Christian counterpart to the bar and bat mitzvah, a rite of affirmation that confirmed the grace received at baptism and equipped believers for mature faith. The discussion turned to the doctrine of original sin, acknowledging that its theological foundations rest on post‑biblical interpretations rather than clear scriptural citations. Participants questioned the biblical basis for baptizing infants for a sin they did not personally commit, prompting Clark to reference theological arguments from Thomas Aquinas and the broader Christian tradition. The class concluded with reflections on how these historical practices influence contemporary worship and personal faith at Linder Road Church of Christ.