The Covenant and Infant Baptism (II): New Testament Texts and Theological Arguments

The Covenant and Infant Baptism (II): New Testament Texts and Theological Arguments Preacher: Rev. Angus Stewart

Baptism Does Not Mean Immersion

(1) Baptism cannot mean immersion if immersion does not make sense grammatically.

Matthew 20:22-23: “But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.”

Matthew 28:19: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in [i.e., into] the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

I Corinthians 1:13: “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in [i.e., into] the name of Paul?”

I Corinthians 10:1-2: “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.”

I Corinthians 12:13: “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

(2) Baptism cannot mean immersion if the object to be baptized is too large to be immersed.

Mark 7:4: “And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing [baptismos] of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.”

(3) Baptism cannot mean immersion if there are too many people to be immersed.

Acts 2:41: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

(4) Baptism cannot mean immersion if the one baptized is in a position unsuitable for immersion.

Acts 22:16: “And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

Acts 9:18: “And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.”

(5) Baptism cannot mean immersion if one party is described as baptized, while another party is immersed.

I Corinthians 10:1-2: “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea.”

I Peter 3:20-21: “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

(6) Baptism cannot mean immersion if a baptism is effected by pouring.

Acts 1:5: “For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”

Acts 2:17-18: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.”

Acts 2:33: “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.”

Acts 8:16: “(For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)”

Acts 10:44-45, 47-48: “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost … Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.”

Acts 11:15-16: “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.”

(7) Baptism cannot mean immersion if a baptism is effected by sprinkling.

Hebrews 9:10, 13, 19-21: “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings [baptismos], and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation … For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh … For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you. Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.”