The Mode Of Baptism

Eisegesis is a bad way to read the Bible. It means to read into the text things that are actually not there at all. One common example is reading that Jesus came up out of the water after being immersed. The text simply does not say that at all.

“So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove.” (Matthew 3:16 CEV cf. Mark 1:10; Acts 8:38-39)

This could refer to Jesus coming up a river bank from ankle deep water. Is this deliberately vague?

Definition

The word baptize literally means to submerge, immerse, or dip. The Greek word can also be used to describe washing dishes.

“When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.” (Mark 7:4 NIV)

Baptism described figuratively the passage of Israel through the cloud and sea dry.

“In the cloud and in the sea, all of them were baptized as followers of Moses.” (1 Corinthians 10:2 NLT).

Baptism described metaphorically the sufferings of Christ.

“But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished!” (Luke 12:50 NKJV)

Blood, water and oil were often sprinkled or poured out in ceremonial washings, giving a much broader picture than immersion alone, or even water alone.

“And I said to him, “Sir, you are the one who knows.” Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in the great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white.” (Revelation 7:14 NLT)

Blind adherence to a few immersion-only proof-texts ignores many scriptures that reveal spiritual depth.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 WEB)

Sprinkling

Sprinkling for spiritual cleansing was common in the Old Testament.

“If the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkled ashes of cows made spiritually contaminated people holy and clean, how much more will the blood of Jesus wash our consciences clean from dead works in order to serve the living God?...” (Hebrews 9:13-14 CEB)

Priests were also sprinkled with oil and blood for their consecration.

“Finally, Moses sprinkled the priestly clothes of Aaron and his sons with some of the oil for ordination and with some of the blood from the altar…” (Leviticus 8:30 CEV)

Water was also sprinkled.

“This is what you must do to them for their purification: Sprinkle them with the purification water…” (Numbers 8:7 HCSB)

The coming of the Holy Spirit is pictured as a baptism and a sprinkling and a washing.

“I will sprinkle you with clean water, and you will be clean and acceptable to me. I will wash away everything that makes you unclean...” (Ezekiel 36:25-27 CEV)

Sprinkling is very much part of the symbolism of washing in baptism.

“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22 KJV)

Washing

Antecedents to New Testament baptism were the many washings with water.

“You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and wash them with water.” (Exodus 29:4 ESV)

What mode of cleansing was used?

“Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification upon them...” (Numbers 8:7 ESV)

So, an antecedent to baptism was the priestly washing for ordination.

“Present Aaron and his sons at the entrance to the meeting tent and wash them with water.” (Exodus 29:4 CEB)

Interestingly, John the Baptist was the son of a High Priest. Could it be that Jesus’ baptism was also symbolic of another purpose, ordination? After all, He is now our High Priest.

What about fire? A baptism of fire seems to occur two ways: the tongues of fire on Pentecost and the fires of judgment.

“The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire.” (Isaiah 4:4 NIV)

The implications of baptism are much broader than the use of water alone. The Holy Spirit is involved.

“Some of you used to be like that. But now the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of God's Spirit have washed you and made you holy and acceptable to God… ” (1 Corinthians 6:11 CEV)

God’s word is involved.

“Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.” (Ephesians 5:25a-26 HCSB)