CHRISTIAN BAPTISM IS BY IMMERSION: AND THREE TIMES (ELLIPTICAL)

CHRISTIAN BAPTISM IS BY IMMERSION: AND THREE TIMES

 

 

 "Baptize" is a transliteration of the Greek word, not a translation:

 "baptize" should be translated "dip," or "immerse."
1] evidence from the lexicons:
a] Arndt and Gingrich's Greek-English Lexicon:
"baptize" = "dip, immerse;" middle voice: "dip oneself, wash." [in non-Christian literature, also "plunge, sink, drench, overwhelm."
b] Abbott-Smith's  Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament:
"baptizo" = "to dip, immerse, sink;" Of ablution, immersion as a religious rite.
2] Evidence from the Theological Dictionaries:
a] Kittel's Theological Dictionary of the New Testament:
"baptizo" occurs in the sense of "to immerse" from the time of Hippocrates, in Plato, and especially in later writers.
b] The  New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology: "baptizo" = means "to dip." Despite assertions to the contrary, it seems that "baptizo" both in Jewish and Christian contexts, normally meant "immerse" and that even when it became a technical term for baptism, the thought of immersion remains.
3] Evidence from the Concordances:
a] Vine's  Expository Dictionary:
On "baptisma" (the noun form of the verb "to baptize"): baptism, consisting of immersion, submersion and emergence.
b] Strong's Exhaustive Concordance:
"baptizo" = "to make whelmed (i.e. fully wet)"; used only in the New Testament of ceremonial ablution, especially of the ordinance of Christian baptism.

CONCLUSION::
"Baptizo" means  immerse
C. The context of certain passages indicates that baptism in New Testament times was by immersion:
Acts 8:38. What words indicate immersion?  went down into and  back out of

II. CHRISTIAN BAPTISM IMMERSION in water].
A. Matthew 28:19 This is the only passage in the New Testament that contains the command for baptism. It is the only passage in the New Testament that will determine the "mode" (i.e. the particular form of) baptism.
Baptism is a symbol.
The purpose of a symbol is to teach truth. If the function of the symbol of baptism is to picture (and thereby to to communicate or teach) truth, then an altered symbol is a dangerous occurrence.
What truth is taught in Matt. 28:19? [i.e., what Bible truth or doctrine does Jesus link with baptism]?
the Trinity [God is Three Persons]

B. The Grammar of Matthew 28:19.
Matt. 28:19 is an elliptical sentence [that means: certain words are left out that are understood automatically by the reader or hearer].
Here is an example of an elliptical sentence:
"Ann, please chop the onions, and the potatoes, and the carrots."
Obviously something is omitted, for the phrase "and the potatoes" and the phrase "and the carrots" make no sense by themselves. Words are understood that make those nonsensical phrases a complete clause.
Rewrite the sentence filling in the omitted words:
Ann, please chop the onions, and please chop the potatoes, and please chop the carrots.
Now, do the same with Matthew 28:19 = fill in the words that are understood:
immersing them into the name of the Father, and immersing them into the name of the Son, and immersing than into the name of the Holy Spirit.
Since this is so, and universally understood, can a single immersion fulfill the meaning which the grammar calls for? No!
[One can compare the elliptical grammar with other verses in the Bible where ellipsis occurs to see that it is not an unusual or unnatural type of construction which Jesus expects us to understand. For example, look at John 19:20, grammatically like Matthew 28:19.
That title would have looked something like this:

We have taken note of the elliptical structure of Matthew 28:19. Now notice especially the fact that "name' is singular; therefore it must be supplied in thought before each of the names of the Godhead that follow.
Jesus could have suggested a single immersion, simply by making the word "name" plural, "names:"
"Baptizing then into the names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit"
Such a sentence would be diagrammed as follows:

Yet notice that the above is only hypothetical, not reality! What is actually written is "baptizing (immersing) them into the name (singular) of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

CONCLUSIONS FROM THE SENTENCE ITSELF:
1] Is the command to immerse once?  No three times?  Yes
2] Is the command a command to do something; or say something? Do something
Since this is so, can a single immersion or sprinkling fulfill the command of Jesus even if the words "in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" are spoken?  No
C. The Theology of Matthew 28:19.
We have noted above that the only Biblical doctrine which Jesus associates with baptism is the doctrine of the Trinity.
The Trinitarian form of baptism (three dips or immersions) pictures the Trinitarian doctrine.
The form of trine immersion is not a bothersome doctrinal distinctive; it is certainly not hair-splitting; rather, it is fundamental if the truth of baptism is to be accurately pictured by the symbol itself.
If the symbol does not picture the truth it is meant to picture, then the symbol is worse than useless, it is dangerous!
D. Church History argues strongly for Trine Immersion Baptism:
Trine immersion was recognized by the church fathers as apostolic doctrine. Single immersion, one dip in the water was a controversial issue for centuries, until finally it was officially sanctioned by the Roman Church at the 4th Council of Toledo in 633 A.D. It was later in church history that another shift was made- from immersion altogether to sprinkling.

SOME EXAMPLES:
Tertullian- A.D. 145-220: "To begin with baptism: ...we are thrice dipped."
The Ante-Nicene Fathers- "If any bishop or presbyter does not perform the three immersions of the one admission, but one immersion, which is given into the death of Christ, let him be deprived; for the Lord did not say, "Baptize into My death,' but 'Go ye and make disciples of all nations baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.'"
[It's very clear that they understood the force of the ellipsis, and insisted upon it as essential].
Cyril- A.D. 315: [Cyril's testimony is of peculiar interest, for he was presbyter of the city of Jerusalem, whose family had been in the ministry from the days of the apostles].
"There can be no mistake, trine immersion was commanded by Christ, adopted by the apostles and practiced in the Church until this day."
Jerome- A.D. 340: "We are thrice dipped in water, that the mystery of the Trinity may appear to be but one; and therefore, though we be thrice under the water, to represent the mystery of the Trinity, yet it is reputed but one baptism."
[Many more testimonies could be added; but the point is obvious: before 633 A.D. pastors and theologians were united in the teaching that baptism was by trine immersion.]
E. The Meaning of the word "into."
The Greek word in Matt. 28:19, translated in most versions, "in" is more accurately translated "into" [see the NIV footnote].
The word is (eis), and is correctly translated "into" in the following passages where it appears:
Rom. 6:3 "baptized into Christ Jesus."
1 Cor. 12:13 "baptized into one body."
Gal. 3:27 "baptized into Christ."
Compare 1 Cor. 10:2, "all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea."
What the phrase "baptize into" means is clear from this passage. It means that they entered into union with Moses, they came under his influence; under his authority. They took Moses as their law-giver, guide and protector, and they risked everything on his authority, power and wisdom.
So, the phrase "baptize into" in Matt. 28:19 means that those who submit to baptism, recognize that they are united with the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and so acknowledge their authority, their will.
On the other hand, "in the name of" means "by the authority of," as the following passages show:
Acts 2:38 "be baptized...in the name of Jesus Christ."
1 Cor. 5:4 "In the name of our Lord Jesus."
F. Romans 6 does not teach water baptism.
The following phrases using the term "baptized" appear in Rom. 6:
v. 3 "baptized into Christ Jesus" [expressing union]
v. 3 "baptized into His death" [expressing union]
v. 4 "baptism into death" [expressing union]
Water baptism is not suggested in any of the 3 usages. Rather identification [union] with Christ and His death. "Baptized into" here means to be immersed spiritually into Christ when He died and arose.
Furthermore, note that that which Paul speaks of in Romans 6 did not occur at the time of water baptism: identification with Christ in His death, identification with Christ in resurrection, newness of life, the old man crucified with Christ, etc.
Paul is not talking about symbols here but what really happened.
TRINE IMMERSION: A PICTURE OF IDENTIFICATION WITH THE TRINITY
ONE GOING INTO THE WATER: God is One.
THREE IMMERSIONS God in Three Persons.