The word “baptism” comes from the Greek word”bapt - PDF document

BAPTISM Lesson 3 The word “baptism” comes from the Greek word”bapto”. It means to immerse or dip. The New Testament was originally written in the Greek Language and used the word in its original literal meaning. The word has lost its true meaning of immersion beca use the method sprinkling was substituted for convenience. Sc riptures on Baptism 1 Peter 3:20 - 21: 20 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. 21 The like figure whereunto even b aptism 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 resurrec tion of Jesus Christ: Mark 16:16: 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not sh all be damned. Luke 7:29 - 30: 29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him. Acts 2: 38: 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Acts 22:16: 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Acts 8:15 - 16: 15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: 16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Acts 19:4 - 5: 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord J esus. Acts 22:16: 16 And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord. Not once did any of the apostles baptize using the titles of the Father, Son or Holy Ghost. But in each account of water baptism, they obeyed Matthew 28:19 by baptizing new Christians in the name of Jesus Christ. HISTORIC EVIDENCE THAT THE FORMULA HAD BEEN CHANGED Britannica Encyclopedia ,11 th edition, volume 3, pages 365 - 366 - Baptism was changed from the Name of Jesus to t he words Father, Son and Holy Ghost in the second century. Canney encyclopedia of Religion , page 53 - the early church baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus until the second century. Hastings Encyclopedia of Religion. Volume 2 - Christian baptism was adminis tered using the words” in the name of Jesus” page 377. Baptism was always in the Name of Jesus until time of Justin Martyr, page 389. Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 2, page 263 - here the authors acknowledge that the baptismal formula was changed by their ch urch. Schaff - Herzog Religious Encyclopedia, Volume 1, page 453 - the New Testament knows only the baptism on the name of Jesus. Hastings Dictionary of Bible , page 88 - it must be acknowledged that the three - fold name of Matthew 28:19 does not appear to have been used by the primitive church, but rather in the name of Jesus, Jesus Christ, or Lord Jesus. First century Christians INVOKED or CALLED the name of Jesus over believers in water baptism. If the name of Jesus means the authority of Jesus, then so much more should the NAME, rather than titles be called over an individual in water baptism! HOW WERE THE Y BAPTIZED Jews - “…repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ…”Acts 2:38 Samaritans - “…they were baptized in the name of the Lord J esus.” Acts 8:16 Gentiles - “and he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.” Acts 10:48 Ephesians - “When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 19:5 Acts 4:10 - 12 tells us that there is no other name whereby we must be saved! In John 3:23 John baptized in the area of Aenon because there was enough water there to immerse those in need of baptism. Jesus was baptized by John through immersion. Matthew 3:16 When Phillip baptized the eunuch in Acts 8:38 - 38, they both went down into the water. Colossians 2:12 reminds us that we are buried with Christ in baptism.