Chapter 3 -

The format of water baptism

 

 

 

 

When we think about the actual format of water baptism, we can sometimes be confused about which is the right way to do it; is it the full immersion baptism or scattering of water that is practiced in some churches.

   The Bible does not talk much about this, but if we look at some verses connected to this, they seem to refer to the full immersion baptism. Especially the verb babtidzein, which appears in the next Bible verses and is considered to mean "putting inside water" in the original language, refers to it. (The same verb also appears in the Septuagint , the Greek translation of the OT in 2 King 5:14, where the Syrian war chief Naaman dives into the Jordan.) Similarly, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus speak on its behalf. Let us look at some of these verses:

 

- (Matt 3:13-16) Then comes Jesus from Galilee to Jordan to John, to be baptized of him.

14  But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of you, and come you to me?

15  And Jesus answering said to him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

16  And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, see, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting on him

 

- (Mark 1:5) And there went out to him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

 

- (Mark 1:9, 10) And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

10  And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending on him

 

- (John 3:22,23) After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

23  And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

 

- (Acts 8:35-39) Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached to him Jesus.

36  And as they went on their way, they came to a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what does hinder me to be baptized?

37  And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, you may.  And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38  And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39  And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.

 

- (Rom 6:3-4) Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

4  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

 

- (Col 2:12) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also you are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who has raised him from the dead.