By Jim Mettenbrink
In the past two articles, we have been considering why the English dictionary defines Christian baptism via three different modes – sprinkling, pouring, and dipping. However, of eternal significance is how these words are used in the New Testament (NT)? And what are the corresponding Greek words from which they are translated?
To pour (cheo): In the New Testament usage of “to pour out” or “to pour upon” has the sense of taking a container of something and letting the liquid flow out, like milk flowing out of a carton. For example “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.” (Revelation 16:1).
To sprinkle (rhantizo): Rhantizo is used once in First Peter and five times in the book of Hebrews. For example, the occasion when Moses (God’s mediator) ratified the Old Covenant with Israel. “For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people…” (Hebrews 9:19; Ex 24:6-8).
To dip (bapto): A common usage was to immerse cloth in a vat of dye. For example, “He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13; John 1:1,14). The sense is that the robe was dyed in blood, necessarily meaning that it was completely immersed in the blood.
The great question becomes why was the Greek NT word bapto/baptizo transliterated rather than translated. The short answer is Satan has cleverly used this confusion to deceive the masses of believers in Jesus. The greater question is, “Does God accept man’s modifications to His commands?” Ouch!
Even at that, the study of God’s word in the broad NT context leads a person to the conclusion that baptism is immersion. Why go down into the river for any other purpose than to immerse a person (Acts 8:38)? Further, common sense tells us symbolizing the death, burial, and resurrection of a person is done by immersion, not sprinkling or pouring.