Baptism - Lesson 6

LESSON SIX

2003-2004

BAPTISM

I. Administration of Baptism: Introduction

A. Baptists have historically insisted on immersion.

1. Some, but not widespread, tolerance being shown.

2. Caught in contradiction: They say:

a. Baptism is not necessary for salvation.

b. Yet, insist on immersion.

3. They focus on act of obedience.

B. Anabaptists (“those baptizing again”) also insisted on immersion.

C. Another factor:

1. They also insist on oral confession of faith.

2. Which obviously precludes infants.

D. Baptism by immersion has become synonymous with “believer’s Baptism”.

E. Pentecostal groups.

1. Also practice immersion.

2. Though waterless “Baptism in the Spirit” considered more significant than water Baptism.

II. Administration of Baptism: βαπτίζω (Baptizō)

A. Means to use water – washing.

B. Thusly, can be administered in the ways water is commonly used, e.g.

1. Dipping.

2. Washing.

3. Pouring.

4. Immersing.

C. Immersion

1. What about those whose “arm” not submerged?

2. Eliminates the physically infirm and critically ill.

3. Yet, Jesus’ ministry directed specifically to such incapacitated persons.

D. Baptism

1. Depends upon the Word together with water.

2. Not upon how much water is applied.

E. Reintroduction of immersion into Lutheran congregations.

1. Might be preferable for certain theological, historical and even exegetical reasons.

2. But, what would it teach?

a. Would one form be superior to others?

b. Would it confuse issue re: baptism of infants?

III. Administration of Baptism: Scripture

A. Pharisees baptized or washed eating instruments, including tables.

1. Mk 7:3,4.

(7:3; nipsōntai: aor mid sub 3 pl of niptō)

(7.4a; baptisōntai: aor mid subj 3 pl of baptizō)

(7.4b; baptismous: acc pl masc of baptismos (n.))

Note: some var. add “and dining couches” to end of 7:4

2. Lk 11:38.

(11:38; ebaptisthē: aor pass ind 3 sg of baptizō)

3. Plates and utensils were immersed.

4. Tables were completely washed, but not carried to pools for submersion every time they ate.

B. Lutherans continued practice of completely immersing infants.

1. Had large fonts in medieval churches.

2. Today, “bowls”.

C. Connecting Baptism with death, burial and resurrection of Christ.

1. Ro 6:3,4.

(6:3a,b; ebaptisthēmen: aor pass ind 1 pl of baptizō)

(6:4: baptismatos: gen sg neut of baptisma (n.))

2. Immersion suggests drowning, death and return to life.

a. Image common in Old Testament.

(1) e.g. Psalms.

(2) Book of Jonah (Jnh 2:1-10).

b. Luther’s use, e.g. S.C.

c. For us, Baptism is the drowning of the sinful self.

D. Discussion not limited to meaning of Greek word for Baptism, e.g.

1. John’s use of “water” for Baptism.

a. Jn 3:5.

(3:5; gennēthēi ex hudatos: is born of water)

b. Jn 19:34 cf 1Jn 5:6-8.

(Jn 19:34; haima kai hudōr: blood and water)

(1Jn 5:6; di hudatos kai haimatos: by water and blood)

(1Jn 5:8; kai to hudōr: and the water)

2. Cognate of Greek λούω (louō) “washing” also used for this sacrament.

a. Tit 3:5,6.

(3:5; loutrou: gen sg neut of loutron (n.))

b. S.C. use of “the washing of regeneration”.

c. Ac 22:16.

“be baptized and wash away” (22:16; baptisai kai apolousai)

(baptisai: aor mid imp 2 sg of baptizō)

(apolousai: aor mid imp 2 sg of apolouō: to cleanse one’s self or to procure one’s self to be cleansed)

d. Eph 5:25,26.

(5:26; loutrōi: dat sg neut of loutron (n.))

e. Cf Heb 10:22.

(10:22a; hrerantismenoi: perf pass ptcp none pl masc of hrantizō (n): to cleanse by sprinkling)

(10:22b; lelousmenoi: perf pass ptcp nom pl masc of louō: to bathe, wash)

E. Sprinkling

1. Baptizing by washing is clear.

2. But, case for sprinkling is weaker.

3. But “quantity” is not the issue.

4. Water joined with the Word is what is necessary.

F. Quantity of water

1. Disciples of John and Jesus may have used vast quantities.

2. What about the 3,000 and more.

a. Ac 2:41.

(2;41; ebaptisthēsan: aor pass ind 3 pl of baptizō)

b. Ac 4:4.

c. Could hardly have used river since these is no river in Jerusalem.

d. Would only be speculative to assume apostles had availability to large pools as Bethesda or Siloam for their use.

e. There is good reason to hold that they were later used for that purpose.

f. Ac 16:33: used home (he “washed” their wounds and was baptized)

(16:33a; elousen: aor act ind 3 sg of louō)

(16:33b; ebaptisthē: aor pass ind 3 sg of baptizō)

g. Even Jordan River not always deep enough for immersion.

h. Also, rivers as in Ac 16:13-15 often wide and shallow.

3. Jesus washing of disciples feet (Jn 13:6-17).

(13:6; nipteis: pres act ind 2 sg of niptō)

(13:8a; nipsēis: aor act sub; 2 sg of niptō)

(13:8b; nipsō: aor act sub; 1 sg of niptō)

a. Not necessarily a “baptism” (is unlikely).

b. But God’s supernatural use of water not dependent on quantity.

4. Standing in running water with water poured over the head.

a. Has archeological support.

b. But variety of ways used.

5. The point is not replicating the exact mode used.

G. How many times is water to be poured.

1. Didache:

a. Threefold pouring corresponded with Trinity.

b. Threefold also reflects three days and nights of Christ in the grave.

2. But as we do not insist on immersion, we can not require the water be applied three times.

3. Three times is only a way in which we proclaim what we believe about Baptism and what is actually happening to the candidate.