Catechesis (κατήχησις = catechesis, instruction; from κατηχεῖν = to teach or instruct orally) originally referred to any oral teaching, but in Christianity was applied exclusively to the instruction given to new Christians usually in connection with baptism. Latin adopted these Greek terms within an entirely Christian context to give catechizare, catechismus, catechumenus. Discerning the origin and development of early Christian catechesis is …