SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM IN THE EARLY CHURCH AND INDIGENOUS PENTECOSTAL CHURCHES IN NIGERIA: CONTINUITY AND CULTURAL ADAPTATION

Abstract

Baptism has remained a defining ritual within Christianity, symbolizing initiation, purification, and participation in the salvific work of Christ. While extensive scholarship has examined baptismal theology in the Early Church, limited attention has been given to its expression within indigenous Pentecostal churches in Nigeria. This article undertakes a comparative historical and cultural analysis of baptism in the Early Church and in three Nigerian indigenous Pentecostal denominations: the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), and the Cherubim and Seraphim Church (C&S). Drawing on patristic sources, doctrinal materials, field observations, and survey data, the study identifies both theological continuity and contextual transformation. Core elements such as immersion, repentance, and Trinitarian invocation persist, while ritual symbolism and administrative structures have been reshaped by contemporary ecclesiastical and cultural realities. The findings illustrate how early Christian traditions are preserved and reinterpreted within African Pentecostal contexts, contributing to broader discussions on religious transmission, adaptation, and identity in global Christianity.