By Jim Mettenbrink
Before we consider the Christian life, let’s clarify what constitutes baptism according to the original biblical text. Merriam-Webster’s 11th ed. Collegiate Dictionary, defines baptism as a Christian sacrament, initiation, or ritual using water; to cleanse spiritually. Regarding the origin of the English word baptize, the dictionary states it is “Greek – baptizein – to dip, baptize, baptein – to dip or dye.” And modern-day English dictionaries’ definitions of baptism are sprinkling, immersion, or pouring. Do all of these methods come from “bapto” or from different Greek words? Regarding becoming a Christian, it is vital to know the real meaning.
Baptism is not a translation of the Greek text, it is a transliteration. The Greek word is bapto/baptizo. Another transliteration is apostle from apostolos. Literally, it means “one who is sent” and by implication, that means someone has sent that person (apostle). Another is angel from angelos, meaning a messenger. So why was baptism transliterated and what does it really mean?
The OT recorded that Israel became a vassal of Syria about 800 BC. Naaman, Syria’s army commander had leprosy. His Israelite slave girl told him to see Elisha the prophet in Israel. Elisha’s servant told Naaman to “wash” himself seven times in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5:10) and thereby be healed of his leprosy. When he went to the river, he “dipped himself” seven times (2 Kings 5:14). The Hebrew word translated “wash” means “to wash a part or the whole of something.” The Hebrew word translated “dip” means “to immerse.”
About 250 BC, the Hebrew OT was translated into Greek, the language of the original New Testament thus would use the word bapto. The Hebrew word “wash” in 2 Kings 5:10 is translated into the Greek root word bapto meaning “to wash.” In 2 Kings 5:14, the Hebrew word “dip” is translated into Greek as ebaptisato – which means “to immerse.” Thus Naaman “immersed” (baptized) himself seven times to be healed of leprosy. This passage gives us a clear understanding usage of the Greek word bapto – “to immerse.” But it has been transliterated in many languages of the Bible because people began sprinkling and pouring as a substitute for immersion, the audacity of changing God’s word. What about sprinkling and pouring?