Lavers and Bathtubs

"He made also ten lavers, and put five on the right hand, and five on the left, to wash in them..." 2 Chronicles 4:6 (KJV)

On reading a sermon by Gregory of Nazianzus on baptism, I once again came across a word that is close to my heart: Laver. Gregory uses the phrase 'Laver of Regeneration' to expound his theology of baptism.

It's my surname you see, Laver as in savour (NOT Laver as in rather) and I have often wondered about its peculiarity. Aside from good tennis skills and an aptitude for the timber business there's not that much to show off about the Surname. Now when people ask I'll tell them: "Laver, you know... like baptism?"

Laver = Baptism

This is where Gregory gets the phrase from:

"he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing [λουτροῦ] of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" (Tit 3:5, ESV)

That Greek word here for 'washing' is the same word used in the Septuagint to translate 'Laver' in the Old Testament. Gregory appears to be using the words of Titus 3:5 and takes the exact phrase "Laver of Regeneration" but also integrates that into the picture we see in Chronicles of the large basins used to clean offerings before they were used in sacrifice (see the bible quote at the top). So this 'New Birth' of Baptism he describes can be referred to as 'the Laver' precisely "because it washes us".

And the image of ceremonial cleansing is heavily used throughout the sermon. It is made clear by Gregory that just as the healed leper was commanded by Jesus to present himself as clean at the Temple by undertaking the cleansing ritual (Mark 1:44), so a spiritually healed person is commanded to present himself to the world as clean by a ceremony also.

"Let the laver be not for your body only, but also for the image of God in you... let it not only wash away the old filth, but let it purify the fountainhead"

"If you were full of leprosy, that shapeless evil, yet you scraped off the evil matter, and received again the Image whole. Show your cleansing to me your Priest, that I may recognize how much more precious it is than the legal one." 

(Gregory, Oration on Baptism XXXI)

Not just alive, but other stuff too

The vast majority of times that I have heard Baptism explained at Baptismal services it is the picture of death and resurrection that is focussed on almost exclusively. And for good reason I'm sure. It is a wonderfully descriptive and helpful picture with a clear biblical foundation. Romans 6:3-4 is blatantly clear in the way it describes a believer's journey mimicking his Saviour's journey from death to life.

But Gregory effortlessly lists off seven other images which all mix together to produce a rich tapestry of meaning for baptism. The Laver is just one of them. Dying and rising is just another. I found it very helpful to dig a little deeper into these other less trodden metaphors. And so here I present all eight of Gregory's pictures to you right now, so as to heal us all from our monofaceted theology of Baptism in one fell swoop.

Baptism is

A Gift: The New Birth that we receive through water and spirit (John 3:3-5) is something that we are given without charge and without expectation of anything in return. We should not refuse it or delay it's offer when it comes to us. "While you are still master of your thoughts run to the Gift"

A Grace: It is something beneficial to us that we can not and have not earned. Nothing makes us worthy of it, nothing detracts from it's worth "And so anyone can be your baptizer; for though one may excel another in his life, yet the grace of baptism is the same, and any one may be your consecrator who is formed in the same faith." His point here is that there should be nothing stopping you getting baptised (Acts 8:36)

A Baptism: By this he specifically references the dying imagery that is familiar to many (Rom 6:4-10 + Col 2:11-12). He states that this second birth is "Baptism, because sin is buried with it in the water". He also nicely summarises Romans 6 like this:

"Let us then be buried with Christ by Baptism, that we may also rise with Him; let us descend with Him, that we may also be exalted with Him; let us ascend with Him, that we may also be glorified together."

An Unction: Not only does he reference a royal or priestly anointing, comparing baptism to the LORD's commissioning of his people, he also speaks of the unction of baptism like the protective anointing of blood put on the doorposts to protect God's people during the Exodus (Ex 12:22). God protects those who have professed trust in him through the 'unction' of baptism. It is a profession of security just like Pro 3:24 "When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet."

An Illumination: now this one is admittedly a little obscure. In his quick description he simply says that our second birth can be referred to as illumination "because of its splendour". He seems to be pointing towards the notion that light is a sign of God's presence (God is light) and so it is a sign that God is with us (light of Burning bush and the pillar of fire), but also our own illumination signifies that we share in God's light (The righteous will shine like the sun Matt 13:43). So our second birth is when we see God's light for what it is: both knowledge of God, and knowledge of our relationship with God. Our baptism celebrates this.

The Clothing: "Because it hides our shame" He directly references Galatians 3:27 which states that in our baptism we our "clothed with Christ". The utter transformation from filthy rags to royal robes. It signifies a status change which also gives us the responsibility to not go back to our former life. In baptism we signify that we have been "loosed from the bonds of your graveclothes. Do not again become dead, nor live with those who dwell in the tombs".

The Laver: I have already covered this in some detail. It is image of ceremonial washing. The water itself does not clean us, but it is a statement to the world that Jesus has removed our disease. We were leperous and excluded from God's presence and His community. Now we are clean and can come to the temple with confidence

The Seal: "Because it preserves us". It's a statement of ownership which does not change. An unrevokable stamp of acceptance. The New Birth Baptism tells the world that God owns me and that is not going to change. He also adds this layer: "a sheep that is sealed is not easily snared, but that which is unmarked is an easy prey to thieves". Which brings it in line with the unction image. A seal of identity means a certain amount of security.

A Sidenote

If you put the Greek Septuagint word used for Laver (λουτῆρας) into google translate it gives the word Bathtub! who knew?!