THE SCRIPTURAL FORM OF BAPTISM

1. Ac. 8:36-39

a. Where does it say they went to perform the act of baptism?

b. Which form of baptism would require this to be done?

c. Do those who sprinkle take the man into the water?

2. Mark 1:5 ; Mt. 3:6 (Compare "in" -Mk. 11:16 translated "into". See also vs. 4, 13, 23)

a. Where did John baptize people?

b. If someone told you he had been baptized in a river, how would you naturally conclude that he had been baptized?

c. Since sprinkling would not require one to be baptized in such a body of water, what is the natural conclusion concerning John's consistent choice of such a place?

3. Mk. 1:9, 10 (Note: "in" here is a different Greek word than "in" in vs. 5. The footnotes in most good Bibles say, "into." It is the same word used in vs. 12, 21 (twice), 29.

a. Which makes sense?

-"Jesus was sprinkled (or poured) into the Jordan."

-"Jesus was immersed (or dipped) into the Jordan."

(Note: Greek says, "the Jordan" and newer versions translate it that way. )

(Note also v. 5) In vs. 10 it follows with the statement, "And straightway coming up out of the water.."

4. Jn. 3:23

a. What was the important factor in John's choice of a place to be baptize?

b. Would sprinkling require "much water"?

c. In all fairness, does not the consistent choice of places with such large bodies of water and the fact that baptism was performed in them indicate they immersed?

5. Hebrews 10:22 (compare "sprinkle" v. 19; 9:13, 14: 12:24; I Pe. 1:2)

a. Which was "sprinkled"--the BODY or the HEART? Which was WASHED?

b. Is there any place in the New Testament where it ever speaks of those who live under the covenant of Christ (cf. Heb. 9:15-17 8:6-9, 13) as having their "bodies sprinkled"?

c. Compare the scriptures on "sprinkle" given above. What is sprinkled upon our conscience?

d. Could we properly say that the body had been "washed" if we only wet the head?

6. Jn. 3:5 (cf. I Jn. 5:6, 8 Heb. 10:22) Note v. 23 & 2:7-9 as to "water".

How could baptism picture a birth (born of water) if there were only so little as to moisten the top of the head???

7. Rom. 6:4, 5 Col. 2:12

a. How much water would be required in order to properly say we were "buried in baptism?

b. How completely would we need to be entombed in baptism in order for it to be a "likeness" of that of the death of Christ? (cf. Mt. 27:57-60, 66)

c. In what form of baptism would we "raise up" as a picture of Christ's resurrection?

(cf. Eph. 2:5, 6 Rom. 6:4 Col. 2:12)

8. Look up "Baptistery" in the Encyclopedia. (World Book is good)

Do you think they would have gone to such trouble and expense to construct large baptisteries in the early days of the church if the more convenient and comfortable method, sprinkling, was what they were practicing? Do churches today build baptisteries in which to sprinkle people? Doesn't it seem that they felt it to be important?

9. Check large Dictionaries and Encyclopedias on "Baptism" and see what they say the origin of the word is and what the oldest form was. Carefully not the difference between the original meaning in Greek (In which the Bible was first written) and the modern usage. Also check on how the Greek-speaking church still baptizes.