What about the Sacrament of Confirmation? What is the Sacrament of Confirmation and is it taught in scripture? Well, if you’ve been through the Sacrament of Confirmation you understand then that the Sacrament of Confirmation is the completion of our Baptism. It is a second anointing with the Holy Spirit (the power of the Holy Spirit) that is made by the bishop that seals us (it completes us). It completes our Baptism and it gives us over to Christ for one particular purpose. Do you know what that purpose is? It’s to be witnesses to the gospel; to be witnesses to the gospel. A lot of times people aren’t really clear about why we have Confirmation because they don’t know what Confirmation is. It’s not a second Baptism, don’t get me wrong. And it’s certainly not Catholic graduation day, okay? Some people tend to think of Confirmation as kind of a Catholic graduation day. That’s not what it is. What Confirmation is, is the confirming of your Baptism, you’re anointing with the power of the Holy Spirit and a special gift of the Holy Spirit being given to you so that you can go out into the world and not simply be a child of God (which you were made in Baptism), but bear witness to God, bear witness to Christ even in the face of rejection, persecution, and death.
That’s that special power. And you need that power, you need that grace, because it’s a rough world out there. Any of you ever tried to share your faith? It’s simple, right? Your friends and family just line up and say, “I want to be Catholic” as soon as you begin to explain the faith. And you’re never, ever tempted to be quiet are you? Just not say anything. That’s what Confirmation is for. It’s a special grace. A special what? Power of the Holy Spirit. It was given to the Apostles at Pentecost. Remember, before Pentecost, they were a bunch of yellow-bellied chickens, right? Hiding out for fear of the Jews. After Pentecost, they rejoice in being persecuted for the name of Christ. That’s the grace of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
But where do we see Confirmation in the Bible? Remember, the ritual of Confirmation, the essential element of the rite, is what? The laying on of hands by the bishop, when he anoints you with oil and says, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit”. Well do we ever see that sacramental ritual in the scripture or did the Catholic Church just make it up? Well, I would suggest to you that it’s right here in the Bible in two key places: In the book of Hebrews 6 and the book of Acts 8. So let’s look at those passages. Hebrews 6 says this:
Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrines of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, with instruction about ablutions [Baptism], the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
There you see a very brief reference to this ritual of laying on of hands in the early Church and notice what it’s conjoined with, it’s conjoined with Baptism. So you see Baptism and Confirmation (the sacrament of laying on of hands) have always gone together in the early Church. But this is a very short reference and it’s very fleeting, and a non-Catholic might justifiably say, “Well, could you give me a little more? Could you give me any justification for the idea that Confirmation and Baptism are two separate sacraments in the scripture? Two separate rituals, in the scripture?” And indeed, we can. If you look at the book of Acts (Acts 8, your next quote), there’s a very important story of the sacrament of Confirmation. And it takes place in an account of Philip, who is one of the first seven deacons ever ordained in the early Church, which already gets us into Holy Orders (we’ll come back to that in a little bit), who was going about the towns of Samaria and preaching the gospel. And I want you to see what happens in this account. Read this carefully with me. This is what the scripture is saying:
Philip went down to a city of Samar′ia, and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip…
I wish it was that easy today.
when they heard him and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city…But when they believed Philip as he preached good news about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Alright, now pause there for just a second. We see what’s going on here. Philip, the deacon, is going around preaching the gospel, performing miracles, and as a result people are coming to faith in Christ. And what’s the first thing he does? He baptizes them. Just as then, so now; the deacon is a minister of Baptism. That’s one of his tasks in the Church. But watch what happens now in the scriptures, because now we shift to something different. It says this:
Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samar′ia had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they [meaning Peter and John] laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:5-17)
Now this is an interesting occasion here because what happens? Peter and John are sent down from Jerusalem to Samaria to go and lay hands on the people so that they can receive the Holy Spirit. Now you might say, “Well I thought they had already received the Holy Spirit in Baptism?” And that’s true. But what the scripture says is that the Holy Spirit had not yet fallen upon them. And when does the Holy Spirit fall upon the Apostles? At Pentecost. See, they have received the gift of the Holy Spirit in Baptism but they still were awaiting a special gift: the descent of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation (the Sacrament of Confirmation). Now, the question you have to ask yourself is: “Why didn’t Philip just lay hands on them? He was there. They were already ready. They had been baptized, they believed in Jesus, why doesn’t Philip lay hands on them so that they can receive the power of the Holy Spirit?” It’s very simple, because Philip is only a deacon and deacons cannot administer the Sacrament of Confirmation. It has to be a bishop or a priest who’s been delegated by a bishop. So what happens? Peter and John have to come themselves to Samaria to give this special sacrament. So we can see already in the scripture that the idea that Baptism and Confirmation are two separate, distinct, sacraments is right there, laid out in the scripture, if you have the eyes to see, and if you read the text in its context.
I subscribe to A Biblical Explanation of the Mass, and as usual, Dr. Brant Pitre does an amazing job. I have learned a lot from Dr. Pitre about the different parts of the Mass. For anyone who has questions about this or other topics of the Catholic faith should get familiar with Dr. Pitre. Along with watching videos, I have read several of his books. He is very knowledgeable, interesting and explains things well.
I am greatly blessed by Dr. Brant Pitre whose in-depth explanation on the scriptures have unlocking the meaning of many difficult or ambigious passages for us. Thanks for Dr Pitre's teaching and the efforts of the Catholic Production which made these materials available to believers. May the Lord bless your ministry.
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