3681 — Trine Immersion
By F. M. S.
What authority is there in the Bible for baptism by trine immersion? Where is it found? What form of baptism was used in the apostles' time? Is there any other form recorded in history? When and where was the first single immersion practised? F. M. S. 1. There is no authority in the Bible for trine immersion, or triune immersion — that is, immersion three times. Some think that they find it in the formula given by our Lord in Matt. 28:19, “Baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” and so trine immersionists dip a part of the body three times face downward. That is, the candidate, with the administrator, enters the water about waist deep, and then dips three times forward. But if the text itself means trine immersion, they do not carry it out, because if it implies three burials it ought to be three burials of the entire body, but they bury only a part of the body once, and another part three times. Baptizing into the three names does not refer to three baptisms, because there is but one baptism, as we are told in Eph. 4:5. The text in Matthew pertains to the office work of the three manifestations of the Deity — God the Father for character, the Son for humiliation and self-emptying and self-denial, the Holy Spirit for service. The New Testament later than this sums these all up into one baptism in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2. The form of baptism used in the apostles' time is indicated first by the meaning of the word “baptizo,” to plunge, immerse, whelm; and secondly by what that baptism signified. The three great facts of Christianity are set forth in 1 Cor. 15:1-4 — death, burial, the resurrection. Baptism, as stated by the apostle in Rom. 6:3-6, sets forth the same three great facts: “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.” The form, therefore, of baptism, would be the form of burial — the candidate laid down in the watery grave as one who is dead would be, indicating burial. 3. There are other modes called baptism recorded in history. Trine immersion began away back in the early days. So also did sprinkling and pouring. 4. We do not know where the first single immersion was practised. We are told by some that it was common for the Jews to baptize the proselytes they received from the Gentiles. John baptized disciples before he met our Lord; but just who or just when, we are not informed. See Bible Students' Library, No. 204, “Bible Baptism,” price 1 cent; Words of Truth Series, No. 17, “If's and Why's of Baptism,” price 2 cents.