Jesus said, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19). Through the years there has been disagreement upon the action or mode of this baptism. Some religious groups have said it can be either sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, while others have insisted it is immersion only.
We could do a study in Greek and see where every reputable scholar in that language defines the original words for baptism and baptize as to dip, plunge, submerge, immerse, etc. For instance, W.E. Vine, a well-known Greek scholar, defines baptism as “the process of immersion, submersion, and emergence.” However, we need not go to the Greek language to understand the meaning or action of baptism. All we need to do is substitute “sprinkling,” “pouring,” and “immersion” in the place of baptism in a few passages.
- “Or do you not know that as many of us as were SPRINKLED into Christ Jesus were SPRINKLED into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through SPRINKLING into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4).
- “Or do you not know that as many of us as were POURED into Christ Jesus were POURED into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through POURING into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4).
- “Or do you not know that as many of us as were IMMERSED into Christ Jesus were IMMERSED into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through IMMERSION into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we also should walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:3-4).
Now, which makes sense to you? It is obvious that immersion is the only one that fits the Bible’s picture of baptism. It is a burial, and we do not bury people by sprinkling or pouring a little dirt on them, we immerse them under the earth.
Will you accept Bible baptism? Will you reject the perversions of man (Gal. 1:6-9)? If you wish to study further, please contact us.
Steven F. Deaton
