Sannikov S. The Phenomenon of Water Baptism in the context of contemporary Baptist Sacramentology

This thesis, for the first time on a national scale in theological studies, carried out a comprehensive holistic analysis of the phenomenon of water baptism from the Baptist understanding of this phenomenon, in the discourse of Sacramental Theology. This shows the polysemy of this phenomenon and to open new perspectives for understanding of water baptism as an encounter of the transcendent and immanent. The author has shown that the Baptist movement can't be treated solely as rationalistic, but it has a sacramental dimension. The research reveals the subject field of contemporary Sacramental Theology and analyzes the transformations taking place in it during the last decates; it's shown the meaningfulness of the concept of "sacrament" with respect to the related terms "sacrament", "ordinance" and "ritual". The author uses the holistic methodology for the study and shows a number of peculiarities this methodology in contrast to the system one. The study demonstrates how to work different methods of holistic methodology, for example hermeneutic, phenomenological, semiotic, performative, contingent and others in the discourse of water baptism. The thises analyzed biblical context of sacramentalism and the peculiarities of the sacred language of the apostle Paul. On this basis, was shown the main triplets of the General Sacramentology the concept of Christ as the Primordial sacrament, the Church, the Bible, and the person who, under certain conditions, becomes an individual sacrament. The features of church sacramentology and the conditions of its validity and effectiveness are also clarified. The author analyzed the development the Baptists theological views of on water baptism in the diachronic perspective, as well as the concepts of "baptism" and the cases of its use in the Gospel and in the Epistles of the Apostles. The author highlighted the practice and theological views on water baptism in the Ante-Nicene period, and also revealed four paradigms of water baptism that take place in various discourses. The dissertation explores the different aspects of the baptismal theology, which is supported by most Baptists. The seven most common views on baptism, which form the holistic concept of Baptist baptismal theology, are summarized in the enacounter of God with man, representing a transcendental integrity. The place of baptism in the Christological and anthropological perspective is clarified.