Posted on 01/05/2019 4:58:48 AM PST by metmom
“After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water” (Matthew 3:16).
Christians, especially new believers, sometimes wonder what mode of baptism Jesus underwent, and therefore wonder which is correct for them to experience. Since genuine baptism represents cleansing from sin and symbolizes the believer’s identification with Christ’s death and resurrection, the ordinance must involve immersion, not merely sprinkling or pouring.
The Greek word (baptizo) literally means to dip or submerge an object into water or another liquid. Confusion regarding the word’s meaning resulted largely because Latin and more modern-language translations of Scripture simply transliterated many occurrences of the Greek word.
Until the Middle Ages, the Christian church knew and officially practiced no form of baptism but immersion. Then the Roman Catholic Church formally introduced and sanctioned baptism by sprinkling or pouring. Prior to that, even the great Catholic theologian Thomas Aquinas wrote, “In immersion the setting forth of the burial of Christ is more plainly expressed, in which this manner of baptizing is more commendable.”
That Jesus “came up immediately from the water” indicates He had been completely in the water—in other words, almost surely immersed. John baptized people in the Jordan River (Matt. 3:6) and at other places where “there was much water” (John 3:23). That would not make sense if he had baptized only by pouring or sprinkling (cf. Acts 8:38–39). Unlike immersion, those other modes just do not fully symbolize dying to sin and being raised to new life.
Ask Yourself
Baptism is a one-time exercise in obedience, but the reality of being crucified with Christ and raised to “walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4) is an ongoing experience. How do you remind yourself of this on your average day? Pray that the gift of God’s grace never loses its wonder.
Studying God’s Word ping
And just as choosing Jesus Christ as your Savior is a one on one personal choice, baptism is a personal choice as well...
Three-fold immersion in flowing water only. Down by the riverside.
Untrue. If you visit old churches with baptisteries in the West (Italy, North Africa, Spain), you'll note that they're way too shallow to immerse. People stood in calf-deep water and had water poured over their heads.
Baptism in the Greek Christian world was (and remains) by immersion.
Baptizo means “to wash”. Not simply “to immerse”. Unless you want to say that the Pharisees immersed whole dining couches (Mark 7:4). Sometimes we wash by immersing (take a bath), sometimes we wash by sprinkling (wash the car, take a shower), sometimes we wash by wiping (wash the table or countertop). The mode does not matter; it is the washing that is important.
“...believer’s identification with Christ’s death and resurrection...”
I as many others were Baptized as infants. Does the true meaning of Baptism apply to me? Confusing to say the least.
Baptism is an affirmation of following Christ. An infant is not capable of making that decision. If you’re a follower of Christ I’d recommend you undergo baptism now that you understand what it means.
What is the source of your definition?
“Traditionally, the mikveh was used by both men and women to regain ritual purity after various events, according to regulations laid down in the Torah and in classical rabbinical literature.
The Torah requires full immersion...Converts to Orthodox Judaism, regardless of gender, are also required to immerse in a mikveh.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikveh#Reasons_for_immersion_in_a_Mikveh
“Immersion is not mentioned, but the context of these commands is of the moving Mishkan / Tabernacle in the wilderness; where immersion in a Mikveh was presumably impractical.
In Jerusalem, you can see the Mikvot outside the Temple, where immersion was practiced.
This Mikveh can be found on the south side of the Temple Mount, just outside the Hulda Gate, where it was part of the Temple facility for immersion before entering with a sacrifice, or whatever.
Here you can see steps with remains of a dividing wall. The worshipper would descend one side, immerse himself and ascend the other side.”
http://www.wildolive.co.uk/baptism.htm
“Teshuva, to my knowledge, would take place in a ritual bathing pool called a Mikveh. Mikveh’s were typically constructed with a set of steps separated by a middle divider (a risen stone divider several inches to a foot high) next to the entrance of the outer court of a Jewish synagogue or temple or in a town square. This water was also heated or “living” water, as the Jews called it, typically provided by hot springs or other means. Jews, before entering the Mikveh, often fasted several days to cleanse soul, spirit, and body, as the Mikveh was a required ritual bath upon intention to enter a synagogue or temple, as well as a pool used for other religious purification. Separate Mikveh’s existed for men and for women. The partaker of the Teshuva would then walk down one side of the steps unclean, immerse oneself in water, and then walk up and out of the pool on the other side of the steps and be proclaimed clean. Only then were they allowed to enter the temple. The pools of Bathesda, and in particular, the pool of Siloam were probably both Mikvehs to this effect. (Bathesda in the gospel mentioning the “stirring of the waters” provided by it’s probable hot springs periodically).
Partaking in a Christian baptism was essentially based on the same premise as the Teshuva. Baptism in ancient Judaism had both to do with ritual cleanness, but also to do with agreement. In obtaining water baptism you agreed to the laws, statutes, and beliefs of the institute or theology presented by the temple or prophet providing the means of baptism. In effect, it is symbolic of dying to your old way of thinking, and being reborn in unity with the beliefs of your baptizer.”
“7:1 But concerning baptism, thus shall ye baptize.
7:2 Having first recited all these things, baptize {in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit} in living (running) water.
7:3 But if thou hast not living water, then baptize in other water;
7:4 and if thou art not able in cold, then in warm.
7:5 But if thou hast neither, then pour water on the head thrice in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
From the Didache, a first century document discussing the practices of Christians.
http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/didache-lightfoot.html
While pouring water may be suitable when circumstances make immersion impossible, it is hard to avoid the fact that immersion was the normal practice of the Jews prior to the time of Jesus, and the Church following Jesus. It is what any Jewish writer discussing baptism - such as Peter, or John, or Paul - would have assumed. In modern America, why would anyone NOT be baptized by immersion?
“I as many others were Baptized as infants. Does the true meaning of Baptism apply to me?”
Water baptism is not a prerequisite for salvation. But it was used in the time of Jesus to mark a conversion - and a baby doesn’t convert. Infant baptism is just nonsensical.
Until the Middle Ages, the Christian church knew and officially practiced no form of baptism but immersion.
The Didache says otherwise.
I was baptized as an infant as well, and have no recollection of the event.
Nor did I make the decision due to professing faith in Christ and desiring to obey Him in this.
So after I accepted Christ, I did it of my own volition.
I guess you have to figure out if an infant can be a believer and decide to identify with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Bauer-Arndt-Gringrich’s “Greek-English Lexicon” gives the meaning as “dip, immerse, dip oneself, wash”. United Bible Society’s “Concise Greek-English Dictionary of the New Testament”: “baptize; wash”. Louw & Nida’s “Greek-English Lexicon”: “to wash (in some contexts, possibly by dipping into water), with a view to making objects ritually acceptable — ‘to wash, to purify, washing, purification’”.
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