BAPTISMA

A look into the different

practices of baptism, why they
exist, and the Biblical bases
for such practices.
DM Arendse

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................... 1
WHAT IS BAPTISM? ................................................................. 1
WHAT IS PAEDO-BAPTISM?...................................................... 3
WHAT IS BAPTISM OF BELIEVERS? ........................................... 4
WHAT IS THE SCRIPTUAL BASIS FOR BAPTISM? ........................ 5
CONCLUSION ......................................................................... 8
BIBLIOGRAPHY ...................................................................... 10

INTRODUCTION
What is Baptism? The word comes from the translation of the Greek
word, Baptisma, and the translation came as a result of a need to
translate the Bible itself. The unfortunate reality is that as a result of
the Catholic desire to keep their traditions in place, when it came time
to translate the Bible into English they did not want those that read it
to be able to question the practices of the church. As a result, they
invented the word baptism and forever kept its true meaning from
the normal everyday readers of the Bible.
However, as people began to question and understand for themselves
the question began to be asked, and it is a question which has brought
about conflict, arguments, and born entire denominations in the quest
to fully understand the concept of Baptism.
As a body of Christian believers we appreciate and accept that Jesus
Christ was baptized as is accounted in all four of the Canonical
Gospels. However, where things begin to get a little more problematic
is in the practice of this Right of passage. For some baptism is the full
immersion of a person into water to signify the person being reborn as
a new person. While others believe in Christening, or otherwise known
as infant-baptism, whereby a parent brings their child whom they wish
to be a Christian and have them baptized as an infant, thereby
signifying the same re-birthing as previously mentioned.
While it is not this papers intention to argue for or against any set
denomination, it must be noted that surely as a Christian body of
believers we still to this day, do not fully understand or appreciate
what Baptism really is and the significance of it.

WHAT IS BAPTISM?
Baptism is often practiced in different ways within the Christian church
without taking up the entire content of this paper on this topic alone

this is a brief look at some of the understandings and practices of

baptism. These are best described as:
Aspersion, the sprinkling of water on the head.
Affusion, the pouring of water over the head.
Complete Immersion, the submersion of a person into water
completely.
Immersion, the kneeling of a person while water is poured over the
upper part of a body.

However, these terms are very broad, and do not fully cover the
multitudes of different practices or interpretations of Baptism.
The word "immersion" is derived from late Latin immersionem, a noun
derived from the verb immergere (in "into" + mergere "dip"). In
relation to baptism, some use it to refer to any form of dipping,
whether the body is put completely under water or is only partly
dipped in water; they thus speak of immersion as being either total or
partial. Others, of the Anabaptist tradition, use "immersion" to mean
exclusively plunging someone entirely under the surface of the water.
Cross (2005:827)

We see here that the term "immersion" in itself is incredibly broad and
open to interpretation. It is often also used as a form of baptism in
which water is poured over someone standing in water, without
submersion of the person.
When "immersion" is used in opposition to "submersion", it indicates
the form of baptism in which the candidate stands or kneels in water
and water is poured over the upper part of the body. Immersion in this
sense has been employed in West and East since at least the 2nd
century and is the form in which baptism is generally depicted in early

Christian art. In the West, this method of baptism began to be

replaced by affusion baptism from around the 8th century, but it
continues in use in Eastern Christianity. Cross (2005:827).

Lastly we have the practice of submersion, which can also sometimes

be referred to as complete immersion. This is the type of Baptism
where a person is completely covered by water. This practice of
Baptism is widely used in protestant denominations as well as the
Orthodox Church and several other Eastern Churches. There is also
evidence of it being one of the methods provided in the Roman Rite of
the baptism of infants.
Having looked at the different understandings of Baptism, we now
need to understand the different practices of it.

WHAT IS PAEDO-BAPTISM?
In short, Paedo-Baptism is the practice of baptizing an infant. Often we
see this type of baptism being used in the more traditional churches,
namely the Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Methodist churches, in
varying degrees and in various forms.
The idea behind this type of Baptism is that as a parent you would
want your child to grow up as a Christian and be assured of their
salvation.
According to the Roman Catholic teachings, teachings that influenced
the doctrines of the break-away churches such as The Methodist or
Anglican Churches that followed it, baptism was and still is a
sacrament of initiation into the life of a believer. (Catechism of the
Catholic Church, 121213). It was believed that this would configure
the person to Christ (CCC 1272), and they would then in turn be
obliged to share in the Church's apostolic and missionary activity (CCC
1270).

This tradition, often referred to as The Catholic Tradition holds that

there are three types of baptism by which one can be saved. These
are: Sacramental baptism (with water), baptism of desire (this would
be an explicit or implicit desire to be part of the Church founded by
Jesus Christ), and baptism of blood (martyrdom). There is no doubting
that they believe that baptism is a profession of true faith and it is
what makes believers members of the one true Church; this being the
body of Jesus Christ Himself. Information from Nee (1993:69)
In short, one could not be saved if they were not baptized, as a
parent, who was under the teachings of The Catholic Tradition, there
would be a heavy desire to baptize a child into the body of Christ,
thereby securing their salvation going forward.
The liturgy of baptism in the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Lutheran,
Anglican, and Methodist traditions makes clear reference to baptism as
not only a symbolic burial and resurrection, but an actual supernatural
transformation, one that draws parallels to the experience of Noah and
the passage of the Israelites through the Red Sea divided by Moses.
Thus, baptism is literally and symbolically not only cleansing, but also
dying and rising again with Christ. Catholics believe that baptism is
necessary for the cleansing of the taint of original sin, and for that
reason infant baptism is a common practice. Hazelip (1998:203)

WHAT IS BAPTISM OF BELIEVERS?

The baptism of believers is a practice most often used by Baptists, but
is evident in many other Protestant denominations around the world.
This is the practice of baptizing a person by their own free will, and not
as a requirement for salvation, but as an outward declaration of an
inward decision. Simply put, this is a baptism that is done out of free
will, and for the purpose of acknowledging ones sins and therefore
wanting to cleanse themselves and be reborn in Jesus Christ.

The biggest difference between this type of understanding and that of

the Paedo-Baptist circles is that this is a baptism that is encouraged
for all believers, as following the teachings and examples of Jesus
Christ, but that no one else can make this decision for you, and it is
not the act of being baptized that saves a person, but rather the
redeeming of ones heart. Baptism is a symbolic moment between a
believer and God. (From: Dyer (2000:57), Marty (2008:78))
This type of understanding is characterized by the argument that the
Greek word originally meant "to immerse". They interpret
some Biblical passages concerning baptism as requiring submersion of
the body in water. They also state that only submersion reflects the
symbolic significance of being "buried" and "raised" with Christ, which
comes from an understanding of Rom. 6:3-4. Baptist Churches baptize
in the name of the Trinity: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
However, they do not believe that baptism is necessary for salvation;
but rather that it is an act of Christian obedience.

WHAT IS THE SCRIPTUAL BASIS FOR BAPTISM?

The truth is that one can argue for or against any type of baptism
practice, but the ultimate authority for any Christian is the Bible. In
the New Testament we are exposed to many passages that speak on
Baptism. From John the Baptist and his preparing the way for Jesus, to
Jesus being baptized, and then Paul being converted and baptized, to
then go out and encourage and Baptist hundreds of new believers. It
would seem that baptism becomes a very central topic of the New
Testament.
Some of these passages that highlight baptism are:
Luke 3:16 (ESV)

John answered them all, saying, I baptize you with water, but he who
is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not
worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Matthew 3:13-17 (ESV)
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by
him. John would have prevented him, saying, I need to be baptized
by you, and do you come to me? But Jesus answered him, Let it be
so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Then he
consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up
from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he
saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on
him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son,
with whom I am well pleased.
Mark 1:9-11 (ESV)
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized
by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water,
immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit
descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, You
are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am
with you always, to the end of the age.
Mark 1:4-5 (ESV)
John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism
of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea
and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by
him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mark 16:16 (ESV)

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not
believe will be condemned.
Acts 2:38 (ESV)
And Peter said to them, Repent and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will
receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 8:35-38 (ESV)
Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he
told him the good news about Jesus. And as they were going along the
road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, See, here is
water! What prevents me from being baptized? And he commanded
the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and
the eunuch, and he baptized him.
Acts 16:31-33 (ESV)
And they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you
and your household. And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and
to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the
night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and
all his family.
Romans 6:3-6 (ESV)
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ
Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him
by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the
dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall
certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that
our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might
be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.

1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV)

For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body: Jews or Greeks,
slaves or free; and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
Galatians 3:27 (ESV)
For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
1 Peter 3:21 (ESV)
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal
of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience,
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

It would seem from these passages that baptism is an act of free will;
a choice for a believer who acknowledges their sin and wishes to be
cleansed of their old sinful self.
Whether or not this is an argument for or against Infant Baptism is up
for an individuals interpretation, however it would seem that from
what can be found in the Bible itself, that salvation comes from Christ
and Christ alone, that no one can enter the Kingdom of Heaven but
through the Son. Nowhere in there can it be found that baptism is a
prerequisite to salvation.

CONCLUSION
In many respects this question will never be laid to rest, there is just
too much at stake now for those that are for or against infant baptism.
For some their entire denominations rest on it as a teaching. However
it cannot be denied that the evidence is pretty plain to be seen,
throughout the Bible and its teaching on baptism, that the practice of
it should be done by all believers, to anyone who wants to join the

faith, not so that they can be saved, not because their parents want
them to be secured for salvation, but because they themselves in their
own conscious state acknowledge their sin, accept the Lord Jesus
Christ as their savior, and want to symbolically be cleansed and reborn
in Christ.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Catholic Church. 2009. Catechism of the Catholic Church. Zondervan: USA.

Clarifying Christianity. 2009. What Is Baptism? Why should I get wet, and what
does

the

Bible

say

about

it?

[Online]

Available.

http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/get_wet.shtml
Cottrell, Jack. 1989. Baptism: A Biblical Study. College Press Publishers: USA.
Cross, Fank Leslie. 2005. "Immersion". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian
Church. Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press.
Dyer, Lary. 2000. Baptism: The Believers First Obedience. Kregel Publications:
Grand Rapids
Hazelip, Harold. 1998. Theology Matters: In Honor of Harold Hazelip: Answers for
the Church Today. College Press: USA
Marty, Martin. 2008. Baptism: A Users Guide. Augsburg Books: Minneapolis.
Nee, Watchman. 1993. Baptism: New Believers Series. Living Stream Ministry:
USA.
Unknown. 2009. The use of the word "BAPTIST" in the King James Version of
l611.

[Online]

Available.

Trinitarian

http://www.holybible.com/resources/Trinitarian/article_43.htm

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Bible

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