Baptism by Baptista

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Oct 15, 1857

Baptism.

By Baptista

"Words are articulate sounds, used by common consent, as signs of our ideas."—L. Murray.

IN all languages, there are words which severally signify, to dip, to pour, and to sprinkle.

In no language can a word be found which signifies to dip, and also to pour, and to sprinkle.

Baptizo, is the most appropriate word in the Greek language, to express the act of dipping; and as it unquestionably signifies to dip, it cannot, from the known principles of philology, in any case, signify to pour, or to sprinkle.

Taval, the synonym of Baptizo, signifies to dip, but it never signifies to pour, or to sprinkle.

It is as easy to prove that the English word dip, means, also to pour, or to sprinkle, as that Baptizo does.

In every known language, there is a phrase signifying "into the water."

"Eis to hudor," is the only Greek phrase signifying "into the water." "To the water," is "Epi to hudor," or "pros to hudor."

In every language, there is a phrase signifying "in water;" but if "en hudati" does not express it, it cannot be expressed in Greek.

If these positions are tenable, it is proved that the Holy Spirit has chosen the best phraseology the Greek language affords, to teach us that baptism is dipping or immersion. BAPTISTA.