Baptism-the Mode by M. Hull

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 10, 1859

Baptism—the Mode.

By M. Hull

BY M. HULL.

I do not purpose in this article to give a lengthy discussion of the mode of baptism, but to present one or two short arguments, and quote some historical facts, showing that immersion was the primitive mode.

As far as I know, immersion is acknowledged by all sects to be baptism; and the fact that the word baptizo is rendered by the word immerse, by almost all translators, is a strong argument in favor of immersion, whether sprinkling and pouring are baptism or not.

But one asks why the word is not rendered immerse in king James' translation. I answer, The translators were under restrictions. There were certain ecclesiastical words which they were forbidden to translate. Nay, in his preface to the Bible [printed in 1749] remarks that "there were certain words in the Scripture which use and custom had consecrated; as, Sabbath, Rabbi, Baptize, Scandalize, Synagogue, &c., which had everywhere retained, though they were neither Latin nor English, but Hebrew and Greek, because they were as well understood, even by men of the meanest capacity, as if they had been English." There were other words left untranslated besides these named by Mr. Nay, such as, Hosannah, Hallelujah, Amen, Raka, Mammon, Manna, Maranatha, Phylactery, "for which (Peter Nead says) no reason can be given, but that they are left untranslated in the vulgar Latin." For further particulars see Lewis' History of the English translations of the Bible.

The question is often asked, Why does not John say, I baptize you in water, instead of, I baptize you with water, if he baptized by immersion? I answer, It is rendered by other translators "I immerse you in water." See Whiting, Macknight, and Luther's translation into the German, &c.

But admitting that "I baptize you with water," is the correct rendering of that text, is it an argument against immersion? If a dyer were to tell you, "I dye with liquor," would you understand that he sprinkled the liquor on the cloth, or immersed the cloth in the liquor? But inasmuch as all acknowledge immersion to be baptism, are we not on the safest side in choosing it? As Bro. Andrews has said, "In matters pertaining to this life how carefully men shun a counterfeit, and with what eagerness do they grasp after that which is true."

To illustrate, we will say that A. owes B. five dollars. B. asks A. for the money.

A. O yes, here is a V I can let you have.

B. Is it good?

A. Indeed, I do not know; some say that it is, and some say it is not.

B. Have you something else?

A. Yes: here is another bill, you can have that if you choose.

B. Is this one good?

A. Just about like the other; some say that it is, others say that it is not.

B. Well, have you something that all acknowledge to be good?

A. Yes: here is a bill which all acknowledge to be good.

Reader, which one of the three bills would you take?

Now hear the application. B. goes to A. and demands baptism.

A. (Stepping up with a bowl of water,) I can sprinkle you.

B. Hold! is that baptism?

A. Well, some say that it is, and some say that it is not.

B. Hav't you something else?

A. Yes: I can pour water on you.

B. Is that baptism?

A. Just about like the other: some say that it is and others say that it is not.

B. Hav't you something that all acknowledge to be baptism?

A. Yes: I can immerse you. I don't like to wet my feet; besides, I don't think it looks decent for folks to go into the water; but all acknowledge immersion to be baptism."

B. I will take that which all acknowledge to be right, especially when it is as plainly taught in the Bible as immersion is. See Rom. vi; Col. ii.

But to the historical facts. Nead's Theological works, p. 269. "And respecting immersion, I remark that the lawfulness of the mode of immersion was never denied in the first ages of the church. It is only in the present age that some have the boldness or blindness to deny immersion, and contend for pouring or sprinkling in its stead. Baptism is a Greek word, and was not translated into the English by the forty-seven (king James') translators of the common English version of the Scriptures; so that, touching the institution, we have not the English of this word in king James' translation."

A writer in the Encyclopedia gives the meaning of the word. "The word is formed from the Greek, baptizo, or bapto, to dip or wash. A linguist determines himself by his own knowledge of the Greek language, and an illiterate man from the best evidence he can obtain from the testimony of others, whom, by his education, he is obliged to trust. To the latter it is sufficient to observe, that the word is confessedly, Greek; that the native Greeks must understand their own language better than foreigners; and that they have always understood it to signify dipping; and therefore from their first embracing Christianity to this day they always have baptized by immersion."

This is an authority for the meaning of the word baptize, infinitely preferable to the European lexicographers. So a man who is obliged to trust human testimony, and who baptizes by immersion because the Greeks do, understands a Greek word exactly as the Greeks themselves understand it, and in this case the Greeks are unexceptionable guides, and their practice is in this instance the safe ground of action."

"Baptism," says Martin Luther, "is a Greek word, and may be translated a dipping—when we dip something in water that it may be covered with water; and though it be for the most part almost altogether abolished, for neither do they dip the children wholly, but sprinkle them only with a little water—they ought nevertheless to be wholly dipped, and presently drawn out again; for that the etymology of the word seems to require. I would have those that are to be baptized, to be wholly dipped in water as the word imports, and the mystery doth signify."

Says Calvin, "The word baptize, signifies to dip, and it is certain that the rite of dipping was observed of the ancient church." Just. Lib. iv, 13, 19.

Says Dr. Owen, "For the original and natural signification of the term baptize, it signifies to dip, to plunge, to dye, to wash, to cleanse. No honest man who understands the Greek tongue can deny the word to signify to dip." Posthumus works, p. 581.

Beza writes as follows on Matt. iii, 11: "The word baptize, signifies to dye, by dipping or washing, and differs from the word dunai, signifying to drown, or go down to the bottom as a stone."

Joseph Meed says on Titus iii, 2: "There was no such thing as sprinkling or rantism, used in baptism in the apostles' days, nor many ages after them." Testimony of learned Pedo-Baptists.

Doddridge says, "Buried with him in baptism. Col. ii, 12. It seems the part of candor to confess, that here is an allusion to the manner of baptizing by immersion." Family Expositor, Note in loco.

John Wesley says, "Buried with him—alluding to the ancient manner of baptizing by immersion." Note on Rom. vi, 4.

Says Wells, "St. Paul here alludes to immersion, or dipping the whole body in the water in baptism, which he intimates did typify the death or burial (of the person baptized) to sin, and his rising up out of the water did typify his resurrection to newness of life." Wells' Illustrated Bible on Rom. vi, 4.

Witsius says, "How were the Israelites baptized in the sea, seeing they were neither immersed in the sea, nor watered by the cloud? It is to be considered that the Apostle here used the term baptism in a figurative sense, yet there is some agreement to the external sign. The sea is water, and a cloud differs but little from water. The cloud hung over their heads, and the sea surrounded them on each side; and so the water in regard to those that are baptized." Examiner, Vol. i, p. 185.

Confession of Saxony. "I baptize thee. That is, I do witness that by this dipping thy sins be washed away, and that thou art now of the true God."

As I have already lengthened this article beyond what I expected, I close by referring the reader to Bro. Cornell's "Facts for the Times," where they will find more evidence upon this subject.

Russialville, Ind.