by Richard Mansel

What is baptism? For most of us, this seems rather obvious. Yet the concept of baptism is one of the most controversial in all of Christendom.

The basic Greek word for the variants of "baptism" is "bapto" and it means "to dip or immerse." Yet there is no shortage of debate about whether baptism should be immersion, sprinkling or pouring. I will seek to define baptism in the next few articles.

Three proofs can be provided to prove that baptism is by immersion. How is it defined by Greek authorities? How was it used in Greek extra-Biblical literature? How is it used contextually in Scripture?

Greek authorities verify the definition of immersion. I hasten to add that lexical authority, on its own, is not conclusive. However, adding the extra-Biblical usage and the contextual study of Scripture we can find validation for the Greek authorities.

The Theological Dictionary of The New Testament in its nine volume study of New Testament words defines "bapto" as "to dip in or under" (p. 1:529). William Mounce defines "bapto" as "to dip or immerse" (p. 112). William Thayer defines it as "to immerse" (p. 95). The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines it as "to dip in or under" (p. 1:410). Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich define it as "to dip or dip in" (p. 132). Dozens more could be cited, but this will suffice for now.

W. E. Vine adds a dimension to the definition (also cited in TDNT, ISBE and Bauer, Arndt and Gingrich). Vine writes, "to dip, was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment" (p. 97). As we contemplate this, we imagine a bowl of dye. We take a hand towel that we wish to dye completely and we ask whether we should immerse, dip or pour in order to accomplish our task.

If we take our towel and pour dye on it, we will find splotches instead of uniformity. If we take the towel and sprinkle dye on it, we will have a towel that has been spotted rather than solidly colored. Finally, if we immerse the towel we will find a towel that is completely dyed to our specifications.

In Acts 22:16, Saul (Paul) is told, "And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (NKJV). Since we find that baptism washes away sins, we return to our illustration. If we want our sins washed away do we pour (splotchy), sprinkle (spotty) or immerse (complete)? Logic would tell us that the latter is the only right answer.

How would Jews have understood this concept? The Jews had the "mikveh" which the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia defines as "an immersion pool used for ritual washing" (ISBE, p.1:353).

A Jewish authority defines "mikveh" as a "Ritual bath. According to Jewish law, individuals as well as various objects must be immersed and ritually cleansed on certain occasions."/1

The concept of a ritual cleansing by immersion is a short step to Christian baptism by immersion for the remission of sins. Washings were a very important part of Jewish life, so they would have been able to make a simple transition to immersion for the remission of sins (cf. Exodus 19; Numbers 19). We could learn a lot from our Old Testament roots.

We shall examine further proofs in subsequent articles.

/1. Myjewishlearning.com

Lord of great and small, many Christians around the world belong to congregations few in number. They sometimes become discouraged because they are small or because they have few resources to work with.

We know, o God, that you do not despise small numbers, but small faith. You are the God of Gideon's three hundred soldiers.

So uphold those brothers and sisters in small groups, that their faith may be strengthened. Hold up their hands for great works, and remind them of the power which raised Jesus from the dead.

In whom we discover and perform great things. Amen.

by Don Ruhl

Read Jeremiah 15-17

Hear the prophet Jeremiah,

Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jer. 15:16, NKJV).

Jeremiah takes in the Scriptures, that is, He meditates on them. Here are the reasons that he does so.

1. The word of God is food for the prophet. Who does not see the need for food for the body? See Scripture as food for the soul. Therefore, hunger and thirst for it.

2. The word of God gives the prophet joy. When you start eating the proper foods for your body and make a lifetime habit of it, then eating those foods is a joy. It is the same with the word of God. Make the daily digestion of the word of God a lifetime habit and you will feel famished on those days when you do not eat from His word.

3. The prophet is called by the name of God. Therefore, he meditates in it. Are we not called by the name of the Son of God? What is the name Christian? I am a Christian. Therefore, I eat His word, and it is the joy and rejoicing of my heart. Failing to do so, denies the fact that I say I wear His name.

by Don Ruhl

Read Second Timothy Chapter 2

It is inevitable. Disputes will arise. They arise even among Christians. What do we do about disputes and how do we handle them and the people involved?

23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. 24 And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient... (2 Tim. 2:23, 24, NKJV).

If a dispute will only generate strife, why continue the discussion? End it. Why should we avoid such disputes? Quarreling is not the way of the servant of the Lord, but a gentle spirit is. We are to be teachers, not contentious people. Disputes often arise out of an impatient and intolerant spirit, but Paul says that we are to be patient. Please think on these things when you go to work, live with your family, read the newspaper or worship with the church.

by Don Ruhl

Read Second Timothy Chapter 3

Pay close attention to what the word of the Lord says and do not forget it. Paul guarantees,

12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12, NKJV).

It is hard to accept when it happens, especially when you are new in the faith. We question why people persecute us for living the right way and speaking the right thing, but sometimes there is no explanation. You are godly and you are being persecuted for it. Accept it. If you fight it, you will become frustrated, but if you accept it, you will live in peace and contentment.