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HISTORICAL
REFERENCES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
_____________________________________________________________________________________
BELOW ARE TWO COLUMNS FOR LISTING THE SCRIPTURES FOR IMMERSION AND THE
SCRIPTURES FOR
SPRINKLING
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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
====================
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
====================
SCHAFF-HERZOG
RELIGIOUS
ENCYCLOPEDIA.......................................................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 practice. 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
====================
An
important factor is overlooked by the exponents of sprinkling. 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 separate 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
====================
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!
====================
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?
====================
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 Switzerland, 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 Encyst., 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 Saviors'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?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
BELOW ARE TWO COLUMNS FOR LISTING THE SCRIPTURES WHERE THE APOSTLES EITHER
TAUGHT OR PRACTICED WATER
BAPTISM
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Matthew 28:19 was a command by Jesus to baptize in the NAME. The Apostles 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 Apostles understood His
SAVING NAME to be JESUS. Can any dare say that the Apostles 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 references 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
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