In | Workbook: A Pre-Pauline Baptismal Formula, Part 2

While there are minor variations in the three confessions, the structure and message of the three passages are nearly identical. They begin by claiming a renewed and godly life (associated with baptism in two of the three) and rejecting every temporal or cultural distinction that might interfere with the unity of the body of Christ. They all close with an emphasis on unity with God, in Christ and the Spirit.

The consistency of these statements, and Paul’s use of this language with his different audiences, suggests that it’s something his audience already knows. He isn’t teaching this passage as something new but is likely referencing it as something these churches have already accepted. He is leveraging these concepts in support of his broader argument and to expand their understanding of what it means to be the body of Christ.