The two boldfaced words need reconsideration in light of the divine council worldview. The word most often translated “appeal” (eperōtēma) in verse 21 is best understood as “pledge” here, a meaning that it has elsewhere.4 Likewise the word “conscience” (suneidēsis) does not refer to the inner voice of right and wrong in this text. Rather, the word refers to the disposition of one’s loyalties, a usage that is also found in other contexts and Greek literature.5 Baptism, then, is not what produces salvation. It “saves” in that it reflects a heart decision: a pledge of loyalty to the risen Savior.
...more
