The New Testament's

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The New Testament's Teaching Concerning Baptism
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A much misunderstood and misrepresented subject
in the religious world
It is practiced in some form by almost every
group claiming to be a part of Christianity
However, by the vast majority of these it is seen
as unimportant and unnecessary for salvation
3
As we noticed briefly last week, most of these
groups go to great lengths to make people
understand that they do not hold baptism to be
essential to salvation in any fashion
In our last study we examined the seven baptisms
about which the New Testament speaks
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Of these
Baptism of John
Baptism of Fire
Baptism of Suffering
Baptism of the Holy Spirit
Baptism for the Dead
Baptism unto Moses
Baptism for the Remission of Sins
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Of these
Only one is valid for mankind today
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There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are
called in one hope of your calling One Lord, one
faith, one baptism,
Ephesians 44, 5
7
Of these
Only one is valid for mankind today
Baptism for the Remission of Sins
This one is the baptism of the Great Commission
and the one baptism referred to by Paul
8
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world,
and preach the gospel to every creature. He that
believeth and is baptized shall be saved but he
that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 1615, 16
9
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All
power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son,
and of the Holy Ghost
Matthew 2818, 19
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What is Baptism?
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As we discussed the various baptisms of the New
Testament last week, we concluded with Paul that
there is currently but one baptism
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There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are
called in one hope of your calling One Lord, one
faith, one baptism,
Ephesians 44, 5
13
As we discussed the various baptisms of the New
Testament last week, we concluded with Paul that
there is currently but one baptism
Therefore, as we now speak of baptism, it is that
one of which he speaks
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In any attempt to understand the meaning of words
from ancient literature, one of the most valuable
aids is material outside the realm of that under
consideration
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For instance, in order to get an idea of the
understanding of a word in Biblical days, we
should examine literature other than the Bible to
see how such a word was used by the common people
In doing this we can best see how such a word was
used in a commonplace setting
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The basic Koine Greek word for baptism is the
word baptizo
Like most words of the Koine Greek, it was a
commonly-used word in New Testament times
Koine Greek was not just the language of the New
Testament, but the language those people used
every day
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What was the common usage and understanding of
this Greek term baptizo?
Lets examine some other ancient documents to
understand more of their understanding of this
word
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Each of these documents (though not inspired) was
written in this same language
In these quotations the word baptizo is simply
transliterated (baptized), as it is in the King
James and American Standards Versions
19
For as when the rest of the tackle is toiling
deep in the sea, I, as a cork above the net, am
unbaptized in the brine.
(Pythic Odes, Pinder, 522 B.C.)
20
They say that the Phoenicans, who inhabited the
so-called Gadira, sailing four days outside of
the Pillars of Hercules with an east wind, came
to certain desert places full of rushes and
sea-weed which, when it is ebb-tide, are not
baptized, but when it is flood-tide, are
overflowed. (Wonderful Reports,
Aristotle, 205 B.C.)
21
And even if the spear falls into the sea, it is
not lost, for it is compacted of both oak and
pine, so that when the oaken part is baptized by
the weight, the rest is buoyed up, and is easily
recovered. (History, Book 34,
Polybius, 205 B.C.)
22
Alexander, happening to be there at the stormy
season, and accustomed to trust for the most part
to fortune, set forward before the swell
subsided, and they marched the whole day in
water, baptized as far as to the waist.
(History, Book 14, Polybius, 205 B.C.)
23
Continually pressing down and baptizing him
while swimming, as if in sport, they did not
desist till they had entirely suffocated him.
(Antiquities, Book 15, Josephus, A.D. 37)
24
And stretching out the right hand, so as to be
unseen by none, he baptized the whole sword into
his neck. (Jewish Wars, Book 2,
Josephus, A.D. 37)
25
And, dying, they filled the marshes with blood,
and the lake with dead bodies so that, until
now, many barbaric bows, and helmets, and pieces
of iron breastplates, and swords, are found
baptized in the pools.
(Life of Sylla, Plutarch, A.D. 50)
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For as the ship that has become filled with
water, is soon baptized, and becomes deep under
the waves so also a man, when he gives himself
up to gluttony and drunkenness, goes down the
steep, and causes reason to be whelmed beneath
the waves. (Discourse on Gluttony and
Drunkenness, Chrysostom, A.D. 347)
27
Other ancient writings could be noted, but these
are sufficient to demonstrate how this common
word was used
A further examination of the literature of this
period shows a number of key points about this
word baptizo
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1) The use of the word shows that the person who
did the baptizing handled the object baptized,
and not the element
2) Usage shows that the Greeks did not regard a
mere wetting, without submersion, as baptism
3) The Greeks did not regard sprinkling as baptism
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4) In Greek thought, the extent of submersion was
the extent of baptism
5) The usus loquendi (the idea attached to a
word by the people to whose language it belongs)
makes it obvious that the only notion that
inheres in the word is that of immersion
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These statements and conclusions from profane
literature are interesting, but for the ultimate
test of what this word means we must go to the
Bible
Even if (and this would not occur) every
reference outside the Bible used baptizo in the
sense of immersion, if the Bible uses it in some
other fashion we must abide by its teachings
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What does the Bible have to say about the meaning
of this word?
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Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized
into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into
death that like as Christ was raised up from the
dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
Romans 63, 4
33
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are
risen with him through the faith of the operation
of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Colossians 212
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In the search for an inspired definition for this
word, the only conclusion to which one can arrive
is that it is an immersion
A burial implies an element into which one is
buried
What is the element that these passages imply?
Allow the Bible to answer
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And as they went on their way, they came unto a
certain water and the eunuch said, See, here is
water what doth hinder me to be baptized?
Acts 836
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Which sometime were disobedient, when once the
longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah,
while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that
is, eight souls were saved by water. The like
figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save
us (not the putting away of the filth of the
flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward
God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
I Peter 320, 21
37
Therefore, the Bible clearly reveals that the
one baptism is immersion in water
Romans 64 and Colossians 212 not only speak of
a burial, but also of a resurrection
The element out of which one is raised is the
same element into which one was buried
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So, let us try various thoughts concerning this
passage in this light
If the burial referred to in these passages is
the Spirit, then one is raised out of the Spirit
This is not logical, and will not do
39
If one is buried into the new life, then he is
raised out of the new life
Neither will this suffice
If one is buried in water he is raised out of the
water
This will do!
40
Note also that when the Ethiopian said, See here
is water what doth hinder me to be baptized? he
was not told
Water is not the right element. It is the Holy
Spirit.
Its not in water, but into the new life that
you are to be baptized.
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Further, Pauls statements to the Romans and the
Colossians prove the unity of practice at that
time throughout the Christian world to be
immersion
If some practiced one thing and some another, his
statements would have no meaning
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How could he possibly say to the Romans, we are
buried with him by baptism if anything but a
burial was legitimately practiced by the Roman
Christians?
How could he possibly know that the Colossian
Christians had all been buried with him in
baptism unless burial was the only thing
practiced?
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These passages leave absolutely no room for those
who practice sprinkling or pouring for baptism
It leaves man with no liberty in the matter as to
what shall be done and the element into which it
shall take place
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Then shall the minister take each person to be
baptized by the right hand and placing him
conveniently by the font, according to his
discretion, shall ask the name and then shall
sprinkle or pour water upon him (or, if he shall
desire it, immerse him in water), saying I
baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. (The Doctrines
and Discipline of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, 1910, p. 369)
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Burial is the only method and water is the only
element that make sense Scripturally
Any other method and all other elements fall
under the scrutiny of the New Testament
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Having proven, then, that baptism in the New
Testament (the one baptism of the Great
Commission) is immersion in water, let us proceed
with this knowledge into other passages
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It is a principle of logic that a definition of a
word can be substituted for the word itself
without doing any damage to the context in which
said word is found
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A definition should apply to the same object as
does the word defined. (Logic An Outline,
Robert Sharvy 1977, p. 137)
The proper definition of a word may be used in
the place of the word. (Hermeneutics,
D.R. Dungan, p. 188)
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Lets notice some prominent passages in which
baptism is mentioned
In each of these we will substitute this
definition of baptism for the word itself
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Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, immersing
them in water in the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Ghost
Matthew 2819
He that believeth and is immersed in water shall
be saved but he that believeth not shall be
damned. Mark 1616
51
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
immersed in water every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 238
Then they that gladly received his word were
immersed in water and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls.
Acts 241
52
And as they went on their way, they came unto a
certain water and the eunuch said, See, here is
water what doth hinder me to be immersed in
water? Acts 836
And he commanded the chariot to stand still and
they went down both into the water, both Philip
and the eunuch and he immersed him in water.
Acts 838
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And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be immersed
in water, and wash away thy sins, calling on the
name of the Lord. Acts
2216
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Know ye not, that so many of us as were immersed
in water into Jesus Christ were immersed in water
into his death? Therefore we are buried with him
by immersion in water into death that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory
of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life. Romans 63,
4
55
For as many of you as have been immersed in water
into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 327
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The like figure whereunto even immersion in water
doth also now save us (not the putting away of
the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ I Peter
321
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What Conclusions Can We Draw?
The Koine Greek word baptizo was used in everyday
language for immersion, submersion, overwhelming
Greek-speaking people did not consider anything
baptized until and unless it had been covered
completely
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What Conclusions Can We Draw?
Baptism always implies an element in which it is
accomplished
New Testament Scriptures clearly reveal the
element of the one baptism to be water
Thus, the Biblical definition of the one
baptism is immersion in water
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What Conclusions Can We Draw?
The Bible plainly states that immersion in water
(Baptism) is
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He that believeth and is immersed in water shall
be saved but he that believeth not shall be
damned. Mark 1616
Essential for salvation
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Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be
immersed in water every one of you in the name of
Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye
shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 238
Essential for sin remission
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And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be immersed
in water, and wash away thy sins, calling on the
name of the Lord. Acts
2216
Essential for washing sins away
63
Know ye not, that so many of us as were immersed
in water into Jesus Christ were immersed in water
into his death? Therefore we are buried with him
by immersion in water into death that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory
of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life. Romans 63,
4
Essential for getting into Christs death
64
For as many of you as have been immersed in water
into Christ have put on Christ.
Galatians 327
Essential for getting into Christ
65
The like figure whereunto even immersion in water
doth also now save us (not the putting away of
the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good
conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ I Peter
321
Essential in order to be saved
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Have you obeyed the Bibles teaching concerning
Baptism?
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