CalvinandHodges
Puritan Board Junior
Hi:
Taking a look at the examples in the New Testament of Baptism concerning mode.
What is the mode of Baptism being defended? In the New Testament it appears to me that Baptism was performed by wading out into a river or pool and having water poured over the head. When water is poured over the head the subject can be said to be "under" the water. This type of Baptism can be referred to as affusion, pouring, showering, or sprinkling. The wading out into the water was not necessary in order for one to be Baptized.
John the Baptist - Baptized by affusion or pouring:
Jesus said that John the Baptist was the greatest of the prophets, Mt 11:11.
John's Baptism was a baptism of Purification. The Jews recognized John's baptism as one of Purification and debated with John's disciples about it, John 3:25. Since John was the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah it is natural that he would preach repentance and faith, and seek to purify the people - making them ready for "He who is greater than I."
Purifications were performed by sprinkling or affusion:
John the Baptist was also confused for the Messiah, John 1:19-20. This is partly due to the mode of Baptism that John was engaging in - that is - sprinkling:
The Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist could only have been done by sprinkling. But that will have to wait for another time, because time has limited me. Anyway, I am sure that there will be lots of comments to answer. As a means of illustrating my point here are some early church drawings of baptisms being performed - they all indicate sprinkling and not immersing:
I removed the images because I agree with Chris Colwell - that depicting the Holy Spirit as a dove is a violation of the 2nd Command. I was not thinking in that direction, but simply using them for didactic purposes to show Early Church depictions of Baptism by Sprinkling. Forgive me.
-Rob
Taking a look at the examples in the New Testament of Baptism concerning mode.
What is the mode of Baptism being defended? In the New Testament it appears to me that Baptism was performed by wading out into a river or pool and having water poured over the head. When water is poured over the head the subject can be said to be "under" the water. This type of Baptism can be referred to as affusion, pouring, showering, or sprinkling. The wading out into the water was not necessary in order for one to be Baptized.
John the Baptist - Baptized by affusion or pouring:
Jesus said that John the Baptist was the greatest of the prophets, Mt 11:11.
John's Baptism was a baptism of Purification. The Jews recognized John's baptism as one of Purification and debated with John's disciples about it, John 3:25. Since John was the one who would prepare the way for the Messiah it is natural that he would preach repentance and faith, and seek to purify the people - making them ready for "He who is greater than I."
Purifications were performed by sprinkling or affusion:
Bathing and sprinkling in Numbers 19:18ff are one and the same - you are considered "bathed" if you have been showered upon by sprinkling. Most of us do this every day. When we take a shower - after we get out we are considered clean. The difference between a bath and a shower is that in a bath you are put into the water. In a shower, however, the water is put on you. This is significant when you consider the next verses:Numbers 19:13 - Whosoever thoucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of purification was not sprinkled upon him, sh shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.
Leviticus 14:49-51 - And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scaret, and hyssop; And he shll kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water: And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times.
Numbers 8:5-7 - And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Take the levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean.
Numbers 19:18-22 - And a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave: and the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at evening. But the man that shall be unclean and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregations, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the LORD: the water of purification hath not been sprinkled upon him he is unclean.
An unclean person touching the water is still unclean. However, as we read before, when the water of purification touches or is sprinkled upon the unclean person the unclean person is made clean. The actions depicted here are just the opposite of immersion - touching the water and being brought out of the water. In order for the unclean to be made clean the water has to be poured or sprinkled upon the unclean person.And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of purification shall wash his clothes; and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until evening. And whatosever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean; and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until evening.
John the Baptist was also confused for the Messiah, John 1:19-20. This is partly due to the mode of Baptism that John was engaging in - that is - sprinkling:
The sprinkling of the nations was the work of the Messiah. If John was not baptizing by sprinkling, then the passages would not be relevant, and the Jews would not have asked if he was the Messiah.Ezekiel 36:25 - Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
Isaiah 52:13-15 - Behold, My servant will prosper, He will be high and lifted up, and greatly exalted. Just as many were astonished at you, My people, So His appearance was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men. Thus He will sprinkle many nations, Kings will shut their mouths on account of Him; For what had not been told them they will see, And what they had not heard they will understand.
The Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist could only have been done by sprinkling. But that will have to wait for another time, because time has limited me. Anyway, I am sure that there will be lots of comments to answer. As a means of illustrating my point here are some early church drawings of baptisms being performed - they all indicate sprinkling and not immersing:
I removed the images because I agree with Chris Colwell - that depicting the Holy Spirit as a dove is a violation of the 2nd Command. I was not thinking in that direction, but simply using them for didactic purposes to show Early Church depictions of Baptism by Sprinkling. Forgive me.
-Rob
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