DOCTRINE OF BAPTISMS
June 1, 1999
Heb.6:1,2 "the elementary teaching about the Christ teaching about baptisms".
  1. Definition: baptism is an identification of one object with another.
    1. Homeric Epics: Ulysses' spear piercing the eye of Cyclops sounded like a smith when he baptized hot metal in water to temper it.
    2. Xenophon's Anabasis: new recruits were required to dip their spears into the blood of a pig, in a ceremony.
  2. Greek vocabulary.
    1. Ba,ptw, bapto: to dip in or under as in sacral baths of ancient cults (Isis), cf. Rev.l9:l3 "His uniform was identified with the blood of His enemy."
    2. Bapti,zw, baptidzo: to immerse. This is from the time of Plato and usually has a strong connotation of going under and/or perishing. In ancient Egypt, the river kingdom taught salvation by immersion. Some pagans, as well as Philo and Josephus, attacked the idea of physical bathing to wash away the dirt of the soul.
    3. Ba,ptisma, baptisma: indicates the institution (ordinance) of baptism.
    4. Bapti,smoj, baptismos: a noun referring to the act of baptism.
    5. Bapti,sthj, baptistes: the one doing the baptizing, cf. John the Baptist, Mt.3:1.
  3. Non-ritual (or dry) baptisms (actual identification, real baptism):
    1. Moses, 1Cor.10:2 "and all (2+ million) were baptized into Moses (type of Christ) in the cloud and in the sea (dry on four sides, illustrates spirit baptism)."
    2. The Cross, Lk.12:50 "But I have a baptism to be baptized with and now I am under pressure until it is finished (over; Christ identified with our sins)!"
    3. The Holy Spirit, 1Cor.12:13 "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body"; the Church, Gal.3:26,27, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
    4. Fire, Mt.3:11 "He (Himself) will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire."
    5. Israel in the Millenium with the Holy Spirit, cp. Joel.2:28; Mt.3:11; Mk.1:8; Lk.3:16.
  4. Wet or ritual baptisms:
    1. John's, Mt.3:1-10; Mk.1:4,5; Jn.1:2533, a water baptism.
    2. Christ's, Mk.1:9-11; Mt.3:1317; Lk.3:2123; cp. Lk.12:50.
    3. The Christian. The believer is identified with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection, Mt.28:16-20.
  5. Submission to the right of water Baptism is part of having a good conscience. 1Pet.3:21
© Copyright 1999, Maranatha Church, Inc.