Stanley Scism

What is baptism? Immersion. Baptize comes from the Greek baptizo, which means to dip or plunge. The word was frequently used in secular settings referring to, for example, submerging cloth in dye to change its color. Such action necessitates immersion of the cloth in the dye, and so this word, which means dip or plunge, was used. The text specifically being baptized in water (Matthew 3:6; Mark 1:5; Acts 8:38), and also says John chose a baptismal spot because “there was plenty of water” (John 3:23).

Where are people to be baptized? Wherever enough water is for true baptism, that is, immersion. John the Baptist, baptized people in the Jordan River (Matthew 3:6 and Mark 1:5, again). Jesus’ disciples probably also did at first, since Jesus started his ministry at Jordan. Later, Jesus spent much of his ministry near the Sea of Galilee. Cornelius (Acts 10) lived in Caesarea, which is on the Mediterranean Sea coast. Ephesus (Acts 19) is a sea port which Paul, however, approached from the land road through the interior–the text does not say where in that big city Paul baptized.

Some people say a baptism MUST be conducted in an ocean or river, but the Ethiopian (Acts was baptized somewhere along the road between Jerusalem and Gaza, not necessarily in a river. The Philippian jailer and his family (Acts 16:33) were baptized where the Paul’s and Silas’ wounds were washed, very probably not the sea, since salt water would have pained the wounds.

The text doesn’t mention in exactly what water 3,000 people were baptized on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2), nor the Samaritans (Acts 8). However, we see variety in places of baptism, as long as enough water was there for immersion, since that’s what baptism is.

Who is to be baptized, and who baptizes them? Everyone who believes and repents. John baptized people from the whole surrounding area who came to him and confessed their sins (Matthew 3:5-6; Mark 1:5). He demanded that they change their lifestyle afterwards (Luke 3:10-14). Jesus’ disciples baptized people who had been following John (John 3:26) and baptized many more than John did (4:1-2). Jesus told us to baptize everyone (Matthew 28:19), and Peter told everyone to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38). In New Testament times, everyone who believed was baptized (Acts 2:41; 8:12,37; 10:2 and 47; 16:31-33; 18:8; 19:2-5). When we see WHY people are baptized, we understand why everyone needs to be.

And who should conduct baptism? Disciples did, apostles did, deacons evangelizing (Acts did. The main point is how it’s done, not who does it.

How is this to be done? In Jesus name. The disciples had been baptizing by Jesus’ authority already (John 4:1-2) even before John the Baptist died. After they had been with him for three years, Jesus, just before his passion, told them that, although they couldn’t remember for the moment all He was telling them, when the Holy Spirit came, He would remind them of everything and also lead and guide them into all truth (John 14:26; 16:13). After He rose again, He told them to baptize everyone in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19), that they should preach repentance and remission of sins in His name (Luke 24:48), that they were witnesses (Luke 24:48; Acts 1:8) and repeated the promise of the Holy Spirit and power (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4).

On the Day of Pentecost, as soon as they received the Holy Spirit and power (Acts 2:4), they preached that (Acts 2:14-21), preached Jesus (Acts 2:22-36) and preached repentance and remission of sins (Acts 2:37-38) closing again with the promise (Acts 2:39) and the importance of salvation (Acts 2:40). They baptized in Jesus name (Acts 8:16; 10:48; 19:5), healed in Jesus name (Acts 3:6;9:17-18,34), proclaimed this healing as being in Jesus name (Acts 3:16; 4:9-10); cast out devils in Jesus name (Acts 16:18); preached Jesus (Acts 3:13-15, 17-26; 4:2,11-12,33; 5:30-32; 7:52-53,56; 8:5,12, 30-35; 9:17,20-22,28; 10:36-43; 11:16-17,20; 13:23-39; 15:11; 16:31; 17:2-3,18,31; 18:5,25,28; 19:4,13; 20:21,35; 22:8-10,14-16; 24:24; 25:19; 26:8-9,14-18,23; 28:23,31), prayed in reference to Jesus (Acts 4:27,30; 7:59), rejoiced that they could suffer for Jesus name’s sake (Acts 5:32; 15:26; 20:24; 21:13; ) and the whole assembly highly honored Jesus name (Acts 19:17). They were Jesus Christ’s representatives on earth–earthly ambassadors of a heavenly kingdom. They were called Christians (Acts 11:26; 26:28). The Sanhedrin and other enemies of the gospel acknowledged that the great importance and power lay in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:17-18; 5:28,40; 6:14) and saw that these people had been with Him (Acts 4:13). (I use texts here only specifically mentioning Jesus name, not ones mentioning no name or title at all, or say simply “the Lord,” since my purpose is to show all the texts showing explicit reference in various ways to Jesus name directly.)

All this fulfilled Jesus own command that “in his name” they would heal the sick, cast out demons, speak with new tongues, and so on (Mark 16:17-18) and preach (Luke 24:47).

Some people, wanting to preserve their old, tradition-based baptismal practice, have said that “in Jesus name” means only “by Jesus authority,” whereas “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost” indicates liturgy formula. This is an arbitrary distinction–one could as easily say that “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost” means “by the authority,” and that “in the name of Jesus,” indicates baptismal formula, and the texts in Acts indicate that the apostles baptized-every time a liturgy is mentioned–in Jesus name.

Why would the apostles interpret Jesus command of Matthew 28:19 this way? Because they had heard Him say that He had come in His Father’s name (John 5:43), whom the Father had given Jesus (John 17:11), and that Holy Spirit would come in Jesus name (John 14:26). Since there is only one God (Deuteronomy 6:4), whom Jesus had said is Spirit (John 4:24), it followed that this Holy Spirit Jesus spoke of was God Himself, whom Jesus had said was also in Him (John 5) and would be in them. Jesus said He, Himself, would be in them (John 14:17). Since, again, there is only one God, it was clear that the Spirit Who created the world (Genesis 1:2), the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit in Jesus was all the same Spirit. Therefore, the apostles could use the terms “Spirit of Jesus” and “Holy Spirit” interchangeably (Acts 16:6-7). The same God was showing Himself in different ways, and the name applicable was the name of Jesus.

Someone might ask, “How about the name Jehovah?” Moses had heard God identify Himself as “I AM” at the burning bush.” “I AM” what? I AM THAT I AM. Moses thereafter referred to God as “YHWH,” which is variously translated as “The Eternal,” “The Self-Existent One,” “The Self-Revealing One”–it’s the third person equivalent of I AM, I.e. HE IS. The Jews would have probably pronounced YHWH as “Yahweh,” if they had been willing to pronounce it at all. Instead they considered it too holy to speak, so would substitute the word, “Adonai” for it in public reading. The juxtaposition of Adonai’s vowels into YHWH’s consonants led to the hybrid term, “Jehovah,” which is not in Hebrew text.

Again, the question comes, “HE IS what?” The Jews added titles indicating God’s various attributes: YHWH-Jireh (HE IS my provider), and so on, including “YHWH-Shua” (HE IS my Savior). This shortened to Yah-shua, or with an English J, Joshua, and in the New Testament, influenced by Greek and by English pronunciation, Jesus. So the name Jesus connects to the ancient name, YHWH, and refers to God saving us, bringing us to baptism’s purpose.

Why should people be baptized? What is it for? For forgiveness (=remission) of sins, for salvation, to identify with Jesus’ death and burial, as part of our new birth, and as part of putting on Christ.

1. The same Greek word is variously translated in the King James Version as remission and forgiveness, therefore English language distinctions of meaning between these two words are irrelevant to our purpose. The same Greek words is used throughout, and the NIV translates it forgiveness each time. Jesus said that “repentance and remission [forgiveness] of sins were to be preached” in His name in all nations, beginning in Jerusalem, and Peter did this on the Day of Pentecost by telling them, “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.” Peter Paul said in his own testimony that Ananias had told him to immediately get baptized, washing away his sins (Acts 22:16).

2. Jesus (Mark 16:16), Peter (1 Peter 3:21) and Paul (Titus 3:5) all say this washing is part of our salvation.

3. Paul once says that we are baptized into Jesus death (Romans 6:3) and twice that we are buried with Him in baptism (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).

4. We are to be “born of water and Spirit” (John 3:5) just as Israel was “baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea (1 Corinthians 10:2), yet not fall away as they did (1 Corinthians 10:6). These are the “baptisms” mentioned in Hebrews 6:2. There are two baptisms–water and Spirit; the singular “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5, read in the context of 4:2-7, speaks of the one baptism the entire Early Church practiced–which was Jesus name immersion, as we have seen: one baptism, just as they all worshipped one God, Lord of them all, and had one faith and belonged to one Body–hence the command to bear with each other in love and keep unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (v. 2-3). Some people ask about rebaptism in water. This takes place, as in Ephesus, when believers (Acts 19:1-2), already baptized, but not in Jesus name (Acts 19:3), are rebaptized, this time in Jesus name (Acts 19:5). There is no Biblical record of people previously baptized with the words “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost” being repeated over them, and then later baptized in Jesus name, for the simple reason that baptism in the titular formula was not used in Bible days, but was rather a post-apostolic interpretation and practice.

5. We put on Christ in both water baptism in Jesus name (Galations 3:27) and Spirit baptism speaking in other tongues as the Spirit enables (Luke 24:49; Acts 2:4).

When are we to be immersed in Jesus name in water? As soon as we believe in Jesus and repent of our sins. On the Day of Pentecost, the 3,000 were baptized that same day (Acts 2:41). The Samaritans were baptized as soon as they believed (Acts 8:12), and the Ethiopian interrupted Philip’s sermon to ask for baptism, which he received immediately (Acts 8:36-38). Paul was baptized without delay (Acts 9:18; 22:16). Cornelius’ household, who had already received the Holy Spirit, were ordered to be baptized in Jesus name, which happened within a few days at the most (Acts 10:48). The Philippian believers (Acts 16:13-15) and jailor (Acts 16:31-33) were baptized immediately, the jailor without even waiting for the sun to rise. The Ephesian elders, like the Samaritans and everyone else mentioned in this paragraph, were baptized as soon as they believed (Acts 19:5). Immediately.

Summary: baptism is immersion in any large enough body of water, upon belief in Jesus as Son of God and as Savior from sin and upon repentance, in Jesus name for the forgiveness of sins, to be buried with Jesus, to put on Christ, to be saved. It is for everyone– now. This is the way Jesus’ apostles, who had lived with him for three years, who had seen him on earth in ministry and after his resurrection, obeyed His command and wrote it down for us to follow. Now if we have true wisdom, we must do it (Matthew 7:24; James 1:22-25).