WATER BAPTISM according to THE BIBLE and HISTORICAL REFERENCES
That relate to doctrines and practices of the Early Church, 33-100 A.D.
compiled by Lewis Manuwal
SHOULD YOU BE IMMERSED or SPRINKLED WHEN BAPTIZED?
The LAST MESSAGE preached by Jesus was a COMMAND to baptize all nations. MATTHEW 28:19
The FIRST MESSAGE preached by the apostles resulted in a command for EVERYONE to be baptized. ACTS 2:38
BAPTISM IS IMPORTANT AND SHOULD BE ADMINISTERED ACCORDING TO SCRIPTURE
Without question the early church taught and practiced baptism by immersion. Paul said, "If we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8,9
If your form of baptism cannot be found in the Bible, aren't you afraid to practice it?
IMMERSE or SPRINKLE?
BAPTIZO - Greek.................RANTIZO - Greek
Below are writings of imminent Bible scholars and authorities on this subject. Most of these references can be found in your local library.
GREEK
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GREEK-ENGLISH LEXICON
by LIDDEL, SCOTT & THAYER................................Baptism taken from Greek word Baptizo - to dip, immerse.
CLASSIC GREEK-ENGLISH DICT.
by POLLET....................................................................Greek word baptizo means to dip under.
GREEK-ENGLISH DICT.
by DIVRY'S...................................................................Greek word baptizo - to immerse
EMPHATIC DIAGLOTT
CONTAINS ORIGINAL GREEK TEXT....................In every instance the Greek word baptizo is translated immerse.
AUTHORITIES
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SCHAFF-HERZOG
RELIGIOUS ENCY.......................................................Baptism was always a burial. The command to baptize was a command to immerse. Vol 1. pg.451
CATHOLIC BIBLICAL
ENCYCLOPEDIA..........................................................Immersion was oldest method employed. Buried in baptism. Romans 6:4 Pg.61, Paragraph 2.
ENCYCLOPEDIA DICT.
OF BIBLE........................................................ ..............It is evident that the action performed in baptizing was immersion. Page 202.
WORLD BOOK
ENCYCLOPEDIA..........................................................The early church practiced immersion or submerging under the water. Volume 2, Page 70.
ENCYCLOPEDIA of
LUTHERAN CHURCH.................................................Martin Luther preferred immersion as more true to original practics. Volume 1, Page 188.
PULPIT COMMENTARY
by Imminent Scholars.....................................................Romans 6:4, "Buried in baptism." The reference is to baptism by immersion. Volume 18, Page 156.
LOGIC
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An important factor is overlooked by the exponents of sprinklng. The original New Testament text and the spoken language of that day was Greek. The authors of the New Testament knew the Greek word "Baptizo" meant to immerse. They also knew the Greek word "rantizo" meant to sprinkle. These often used words were never interchangeable, having seperate meanings. If God had intended for His ministers to sprinkle, the Greek word "rantizo" would have been employed, not "baptizo."
If sprinkling cannot be found in the Bible, then you are practicing a tradition of man, which makes the "word of God of none effect." Mark 7:13
INFANT BAPTISM
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As with sprinkling, the doctrine of infant baptism cannot be found in the New Testament without adding to it.
Scripture logic cries out against infant baptism. The very mode (immersion) makes it illogical and impractical. The teaching surrounding baptism automatically prohibits it.
THE BIBLE SPEAKS!
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MATT. 28:19 - "Teach all nations, baptizing them" - Teaching or preaching must precede baptism. See Acts 2:41
ACTS 8:36,37 - Eunuch. "What doth hinder me to be baptized?" Phillip, "If Thou believest with all thine heart." Believing is a prerequisite of baptism. See, Mark 16:16.
ACTS 2:38 - "Repent and be baptized everyone of you." Repentance must precede Baptism. See, Luke 24:47.
DO YOU KNOW?
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That the first recipients of baptism were adults. Infant baptism was a later development that led to sprinkling. - Chambers Encyclopedia, Vol 2, Pg.112
There's no direct evidence in New Testament for infant baptism. - Interpreters Bible Dict. Vol 1, Pg. 352
The earliest Christian literature makes no reference to baptism of infants. - Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol 3, Pg 138
The first mention of infant baptism was about 185 A.D. Not universal until 6th Century. - History of Church, by WALKER, Pgs 87,88
That 350 Lutheran pastors of W. Germany wish to abandon infant baptism. Many of these same pastors refused to baptize their own infants. They felt that baptism should be understood first by the recipient. - Time Magazine, Pg 58-May, 1968
That Karl Barth of Swizterland, the best known Theologian of 20th Century said, "There is not Biblical basis for infant baptism-this tradition is simply an old error of the church." - Time Magazine, Pg 58-May, 1968
A child should be old enough to receive teaching, believe, and repent of sin before being baptized. Dedicating children to God and asking Him to bless them is Biblical. This Jesus did in Luke 18:15-17, Matthew 19:13-15
BAPTISM
IS IT IN THE PLAN OF SALVATION
Listed below are three of many reasons why baptism is an absolute necessity
1. THE BIBLE SAYS SO!
JOHN 3:5 - "Except a man be born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God." Most Bible commentaries agree that water here refers to baptism.
** See, Matthew-Henry, Adam Clark, Hist. Christian Church, Walker, Catholic Encycl., Oxford Dict. of Church, Interpreters Dict. of Bible., Temples Bible Dict.**
MARK 16:16 - "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." Notice how Jesus places baptism in conjunction with salvation.
1 Peter. 3:21 - "The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us." Also see Acts 10:6 and 48.
2. IT REMITS SIN
HEBREWS 9:22 - The application of the blood of Christ is necessary to remit sin. What then is the Biblical way to receive remission of sin? The answer to this question will also be the only way to get the Saviour's blood applied.
LUKE 24:47 - "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name...." (Jesus)
ACTS 2:38 - "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins..." The blood of Jesus is applied only through water baptism in the name of Jesus. Also see 1 John 5:8 and Acts 22:16
3. BAPTIZED INTO CHURCH
Every New Testament church was formed by those whom were baptized into the faith after believing and repenting. Gal 3:27 and 1 Cor 12:13
CHURCH AT JERUSALEM - 3000 added by baptism after receiving the word. Acts 2:41
CHURCH AT SAMARIA - Believed and were baptized, men & women. Acts - :12-16
CHURCH AT CAESAREA - Peter commanded them to be baptized. Acts 10:48
CHURCH AT PHILIPPI - Lydia & the Phillipian jailer baptized Acts 16:14-33
CHURCH AT CORINTH - Paul preached. They believed and were baptized. Acts 18:8
CHURCH AT EPHESUS - Paul rebaptizes those improperly baptized. Acts 19:1-6
CHURCH AT GALATIA - Believed Paul and baptized into Christ. Gal 3:27
CHURCH AT COLOSSE - They were buried with Christ in baptism. Col 2:12
CHURCH AT ROME - They died to sin, then buried in baptism. Romans 6:1-4
BAPTISM
1. IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON & HOLY GHOST
- or -
2. IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST
Which of These Were Practiced By the Apostles in the Early Church?
Matthew 28:19 was a command by Jesus to baptize in the NAME. The Apostoles did not repeat the word of the command, but they did obey it as seen in the scriptures above. Since Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are titles of the manifestations of the Almighty Spirit and His body, the Apostoles understood His SAVING NAME to be JESUS. Can any dare say that the Apostoles disobeyed the Lord, or failed to baptize properly? THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY GHOST IS LORD JESUS CHRIST. The actions of the Apostles in the Book of Acts prove this to be true.
BAPTISM
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
HOW DID THE EARLY CHURCH INTERPRET CHRIST'S COMMAND IN MATTHEW 28:19? ACTS 2:38, 8:16, 10:48, and 19:5 are four Biblical refernces that answer this question. If the Biblical record is not enough, please examine the findings of the educated, scholars, and historians.
Britannica Encyclopedia - 11th Edition, Volume 3, page 365 - Baptism was changed from the name of Jesus to words Father, Son & Holy Ghost in 2nd Century.
Canney Encyclopedia of Religion - page 53 - The early church baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until the second century.
Hastings Encyclopedia of Religion - Volume 2 - Christian baptism was administered using the words, "in the name of Jesus." page 377. Baptism was always in the name of Jesus until time of Justin Martyr, page 389
Catholic Encyclopedia - Volume 2, page 435 - Here the authors acknowledged that be baptismal formula was changed by their church.
Schaff - Herzog Religious Encyclopedia - Volume 1, page 435 - The New Testament knows only the baptism in the name of Jesus.
Hastings Dictionary of the Bible - page 88 - It must be acknowledged that the three fold name of Matthew 28:19 does not appear to have been used by the primitive church, but rather in the name of Jesus or Lord Jesus.
IS IT AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY THAT THE NAME OF JESUS BE SPOKEN OR CALLED OVER A CANDIDATE FOR WATER BAPTISM WHEN HE IS BEING BAPTIZED? For the answer to this question, please read Acts 15:17 and James 2:7 [Greek Linear]. First Century Christians INVOKED OR CALLED the name of Jesus over believers in water baptism. If, as some say, "the name of Jesus means the authority of Jesus", then so much more should the NAME, rather than the titles, be called over an individual in baptism. Read Matthew 28:18, Acts 4:12 and Colossians 2:9. Jude 3 is an exhortation to "CONTEND FOR THE FAITH ONCE DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS." See Galatians 1:8-9 also. Should anyone dare to change what CHRIST and the Apostles established?
The above information was taken from "WATER BAPTISM according to THE BIBLE and Historical References" (compiled by Lewis Manuwal)
8855 Dunn Road
Hazelwood, Missouri 63042
(posted 01-16-06)
