Hippolytus was an important 2nd- and 3rd-century Christian theologian. We know little about him, but one ancient writer describes him as a disciple of Irenaeus, who was a disciple of Polycarp, who was a disciple of the apostle John.
Hippolytus's account of the baptismal service (early third century): "When the person being baptized goes down into the water, he who baptizes him, putting his hand on him, shall say: "Do you believe in..."
