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The Church of Christ |
To begin with, let's look
at the word "Baptize" and all of its derivatives, i.e. baptizing, baptized,
baptism.
The word Baptize is a transliteration of the word "baptizo". Transliteration was a process whereby the translators who rendered our first English Bible dealt with words which had no direct English equivalent. Examples of transliterated words would be the words Leviathan & Behemoth" found in Job 40 and 41. The word "Baptizo" has English equivalents, but was transliterated into the word "baptize" to avoid persecution from local church authorities who routinely practiced "water sprinkling and/or pouring" as a method of water baptism. They would have completely rejected a translation that advocated immersion into water in direct conflict with their form of water baptism.
baptizo (bap-tid'-zo); (Strong's number NT907) To immerse, submerge; to make overwhelmed (i.e. fully wet); used only (in the N. T.) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism:
In the KJV - Baptist, baptize, wash.
The word Baptizo is a derivative of the word "bapto"
bapto (bap'-to); (Strong's number NT911); a primary verb; to overwhelm, i.e. cover wholly with a fluid; in the N. T. only in a qualified or specially, sense, i.e. (literally) to moisten (a part of one's person), or (by implication) to stain (as with dye):
In the KJV - dip.
Baptism
The noun "baptism" and the corresponding verb, "baptize," come directly from Greek to English with only slight spelling modification. The word, used literally, denotes to immerse, dip, or submerge. When employed metaphorically, it suggests the idea of being overwhelmed. There are several senses it takes in the New Testament, depending upon the context.
(1) It was used with reference to the overwhelming suffering that Christ would endure at Calvary (Luke 12:51 "But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!")
(2) "Baptism" describes the extraordinary measure of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, received by the apostles on Pentecost (Acts 1:5; 2:4), and later by the first Gentiles to whom the gospel was extended. (Acts 11:15-17)
(3) It is symbolically used to describe the punishment of Hell (Matthew 3:10-12)
(4) The most common use of baptism has to do with immersion in water as an act of spiritual obedience. It was first introduced by John the Baptizer (Matthew. 3:6), subsequently used by Jesus' disciples (John 4:1-2). Finally it was authorized under the "great commission" (Matthew 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-16)
The baptism of our age (Christian Age) embodies immersion in water (Acts 8:38-39); Romans. 6:3-4; Colossians. 2-12), for a person who has the ability to both believe the gospel message and repent of sin (Mark. 16:16; Acts 2:38). The purpose of the ordinance is for the acquisition of pardon (Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Peter 3:21). At baptism, one enters a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ (Romans 6:34; Galatians 3:26-27) and becomes a part of the Lord's spiritual body (1 Corinthians 12:13), called the church (Ephesians 1:22-23; Col 1:18, 24; Acts 2:47). This is the same realm known as the kingdom of God, which is entered by the "new birth" process (John 3:3-5). Water immersion is the "one baptism" (Ephesians. 4:5), commanded by Jesus to be administered by us, to all people, as instructed in the great commission, (Matthew 28:19-20), and continues to the end of time.
Series of studies on Baptism
Baptism Defined | New Testament Baptism | Which Baptism is it? | Baptism of The Holy Spirit
Related Studies
Is Baptism defined as work in scripture? | Examples of Christian Converts