Keywords
early Christians, temples, baptism for the dead
Abstract
This paper addresses the early Christian transition from templebased Judaism to the Constantinian basilica of the fourth century. David argues that some Christians of the second and early third centuries may have had places of worship that, while not monumental in scale, qualify typologically as temples and were understood as such. These sacred structures may have been used for the performance of baptisms for the dead, as suggested by Doctrine and Covenants 124. In support of this thesis, he takes as case studies the Christian places of worship at ancient Edessa and Dura Europos, based on a combination of textual sources and archaeological remains. David then briefly applies these findings to a question posed years ago in studies by Hugh Nibley and John Lundquist, “What Is a Temple?”
Recommended Citation
Calabro, David
(2021)
"Early Christian Temples and Baptism for the Dead: Defining Sacred Space in the Late Antique Near East,"
Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: Vol. 46, Article 8.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/interpreter/vol46/iss1/8
