Baptism and (i.e. fully wet)

Nancy Paulson

Transliteration

Three words that deal with the issue of baptism:

1. BAPTIZO - in Strong's Concordance it is #907 and is used 80 times in 65 verses.
2. BAPTISMA - in Strong's Concordance it is #908 and is used 22 times in 22 verses.
3. BAPTISMOS - in Strong's Concordance it is #909 and is used 4 times in 4 verses.

All three of these words are derived from the Greek BAPTO (in Strong Concordance it is #911) which is defined as "to whelm. i.e. to cover wholly in a fluid" and #907 is defined as to make whelmed (i.e. to make fully wet). The i.e. stands for that is. So, in other words, Strong's Concordance gives a definition and then adds "that is to cover wholly in a fluid" and "(that is fully wet)".

We now have a choice as to what we want to use as our authority in defining a word. We can use either what man has compiled as the definition of the word or we can use the Scriptures and see how that word is used in context to get the true meaning of the word.

Scripture use of the word baptisms (baptismos - #909):

(Hebrews 6:2 KJV) Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

(Hebrews 9:10 KJV) Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.

In this verse we do actually see the word baptisms; but it is the same Greek word baptismos as found in Hebrews 6:2. So, we can conclude that the doctrine of baptisms can also be stated as the doctrine of washings. Does baptism or baptize always have to do with (i.e. fully wet) or (i.e. to cover wholly with a fluid)?

Doctrine of washings:

(Mark 7:1-8 KJV) Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. {2} And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. {3} For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. {4} And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brazen vessels, and of tables. {5} Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? {6} He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. {7} Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. {8} For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.

In verse 4, in the phrase "except they wash", the word wash is the word baptizo (#907), and the word washing is baptismos (#909). Hence, the verse can be read as "...except they baptize, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the baptisms of cups, and pots brazen vessels, and of tables."

Washing of cups:

Now, with this in mind, let's think about what we do when we wash cups. The Scribes and the Pharisees were doing it according to the traditions of the elders and although you and I wash cups for a different reason the concept is still the same. We take a dirty cup and place it into a substance (water) and then perform an action (wash it) so that when we bring the cup out the water, it is clean and can now be used by you or someone else. Its previous condition has been changed.

When we think of baptism, we ought to think beyond the definition (i.e. fully wet). Strong's Concordance would lead us to believe that whenever we see the word baptize that we ought to always think of water, whether it is sprinkling, pouring or immersion. However, from these verses in Mark, we see that washing (baptism) has the idea of changing the condition of something because of an action that was performed.

For instance, when my daughter washes the dishes, she can (i.e. make fully wet) the cup but does not perform the action of washing it so that when the cup comes out of the water it is (i.e. fully wet) but the condition has not changed. It is still as dirty as it was before it was placed into the water. The idea behind the Greek word baptism is that of placing or putting something into another substance and performing an action so that it will change the state of the item from its previous condition.

Concept of washing:

What did the Scribes and the Pharisees have in mind when they complained about the disciples of Jesus not washing their hands? It was concerning the fact that the hands were not placed into something and an action performed so that when the hands came out the condition of their hands would be changed from the previous condition, from defiled to holy.

So then, what is baptism? To make something fully wet? Or is baptism the idea of being placed into something (Christ's death) and an action is performed so that when we come out we are changed from our previous condition? It is all about our identification; God takes what we are in Adam and places us into Christ and God's action (crucifying the old man) changes our condition, now we are in Christ. We are no longer what we were in Adam because God has done something to us and in us. Our previous condition has been changed because of what God has done.

(Colossians 2:12 KJV) Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

(Romans 6:3-6 KJV) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? {4} Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. {5} For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: {6} Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

If we need to have a something to symbolize what happened to us inwardly then rather than it be something that will make us (i.e. fully wet) it ought to be our walk in newness of life.

Reference used:
Tapes series of Romans
by Duane Gallentine