THE BIBLE AND BAPTISM

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Jul 20, 1876

FromThe Review and Herald, Review and Herald, Vol. 48, No. 4.

THE BIBLE AND BAPTISM.

More than eighty times is baptism referred to in the New Testament. As an ordinance, therefore, it is of no small importance. By a careful study of all the instances where it is commanded, observed, or referred to, we shall be able to learn what our Lord intended us to do in the premises. The surest way to correct our errors, and come to the knowledge of the truth, is to carefully study the word of God. We would advise every inquirer to read all the passages of Scripture which refer to baptism one by one, and mark each verse that gives any clue to the act the Saviour requires us to perform. If a verse is found that favors sprinkling, record the fact; if any favor pouring set them down; if any indicate that immersion was the law of Christ and apostolic custom, mark those down; and when the list is complete, when every text is examined, the truth will be plainly revealed, and the path of duty will be obvious. Having pursued that course, we find no statement, allusion, example, or intimation favorable to sprinkling, or pouring; but in all cases where the form of the act is, to any degree, specified or implied, immersion is that form.

We will cite a few examples. Mark 1: 5: “And there went out unto him all the land of Judea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.” This is a record of John's baptism, which he performed “in the river Jordan.” In verses 9 and 10, we have an account of our Lord's baptism by John in the same river: “And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.”

The example of our Saviour should have great weight with us; it is blessed to follow in his footsteps wherever we find them. Remembering that baptizo means to immerse, there is perfect harmony between this word and the act of our Lord; he was baptized “in the river Jordan,” and consequently not sprinkled, nor poured upon, but immersed. As he was baptized, he commanded all who believe on him to be baptized.

In Acts 8: 38, we find a description of an apostolic baptism. The Ethiopian eunuch believed on Jesus, and requested baptism. Philip acceded to his request, and the Spirit records what he did: “And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, and the eunuch saw him no more.” There is no reference to this rite in any other part of the New Testament, which in any way favors, hints at, implies, or renders probable, any other form of baptism besides immersion. If we should read that persons were baptized on the housetop, out of a bowl, or with a spoonful of water, the case would be different. But we find no such instances; every record of the observance of the rite which gives any clue to the real act done, suggests and, indeed, necessitates, immersion. Is not that conclusive?

A query is raised in regard to the baptism of the 3,000 on the day of Pentecost. It is supposed that so many could not be baptized in one day. The supposition is the merest shadow; there was no more difficulty in baptizing 3,000 than 300. It is by no means certain that they were all baptized in one day. The fact is recorded that they were all baptized, but several days may have transpired before it was done. The essential point of the narrative is, that they believed, gladly received the word, and were baptized on their faith. Yet their baptism on that very day could have been easily performed. There were seventy disciples, and twelve apostles, making eighty-two administrators in all, ready to perform the duties of the hour. Divide three thousand into eighty-two parts, and we have less than thirty-seven candidates to each man. An administrator can baptize one a minute without haste, so that the three thousand could have been baptized in less than forty minutes.

In the epistles, baptism is referred to as a burial, and never under the figure of sprinkling. Rom. 6: 3–5: “Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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 should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.” The description of the baptism of the Romans will apply to all Christians. They were buried, planted with Christ. Biblical scholars, from the earliest ages of Christian history, with only two or three modern exceptions, have agreed that this passage refers to the primitive act of baptism, and accurately describes it. Christ Jesus was buried when he was baptized, and believers were buried with him, buried in the same manner in water, following his example, and obeying his command. Again, in Col. 2: 15, the same statement is repeated: “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

Thus we may search the New Testament, examine every verse that alludes to this rite at all, and the allusions, descriptions, and attending circumstances, all imply, require, or are perfectly consistent with, immersion, and in no case do they imply, suggest, or point to any other mode. With a sincere desire, therefore, to obey the Lord, and walk carefully in his precepts and example, we should certainly go “down into the water,” and be “buried with Jesus Christ in baptism.” We urge this, not because much water is better than a little water, but wholly because this is the way our Saviour has appointed, and therefore the way his disciples should be eager to walk. It is not form, but obedience, that is important.—Baptist Union.