Webbijbel
Gert-Jan Van Zanten
Is baptism a burial?
In this writing we would
like to think about what baptism is in relation to the amount of
water. Is sprinkling sufficient?
Or does it have to be an going under water?
1. A word study:
The word baptism:
The word itself can tell us much about the concept.
Below is the comment on this word from Strongs:
G907
βαπτίζω
baptizō
bap-tid'-zo
From a derivative of G911; to make whelmed (that
is, fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of
ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the
ordinance of Christian baptism: - baptist, baptize, wash.
And the comment from Thayer:
G907
βαπτίζω baptizōThayer Definition:
1) to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)
2) to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one’s self, bathe
3) to overwhelm
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from a derivative of G911
Citing in TDNT: 1:529, 92
From these two entries we understand that the word means:
-To make whelmed. That is fully wet.
-To dip
-To submerge
-To overwhelm
These words give us an indication of what this word in its original
meaning meant to the listeners of the Gospel and the readers of the
Greek New Testament.
The word translated "baptized" or "baptism" is used in several other
places.
Luk 16:24 And 2532 he 846
cried 5455 and said, 2036 Father 3962
Abraham, 11 have mercy 1653 on me, 3165 and 2532 send
3992 Lazarus, 2976 that 2443 he may dip 911 the 3588 tip
206 of his 848 finger 1147 in water,5204 and 2532 cool 2711 my
3450 tongue; 1100 for 3754 I am tormented 3600 in
1722 this 5026 flame. 5395
In this verse a related word is used. The word translated "he may
dip" is word (number 911) and related to the word translated
"baptism" (number 907)
Dip here also means that the finger would be going into water.
Joh 13:26 Jesus 2424 answered,611 He1565 it is,2076 to whom3739
I1473 shall give1929 a sop,5596 when I have dipped911 it.
And2532 when he had dipped1686 the3588 sop,5596 he gave1325 it
to Judas2455 Iscariot,2469 the son of Simon.4613
The same is true for this verse. Dipping is implied.
Rev 19:13 And2532 he was clothed with4016 a vesture2440
dipped911 in blood:129 and2532 his848 name3686 is called2564 The3588
Word3056 of God.2316
And also true for this verse.
The word "dip" implies a going into.
When we consider this word then we can see that sprinkling does not
fit this picture.
We conclude to say that baptism is like the word says, it is a
dipping in water, it implies much water. (John 3: 23)
A related word.
Baptismos - ( Baptismous ) to cleanse, purify
Examples
Mark 7:4-8
Mar 7:4 And2532 when they come from575 the
market,58 except3362 they wash,907 they eat2068 not.3756 And2532
many4183 other things243 there be,2076 which3739 they have
received3880 to hold,2902 as the washing909 of cups,4221
and2532 pots,3582 (2532) brazen vessels,5473 and2532 of tables.2825
Hebrews 9:10
Heb 9:10 Which stood only3440 in1909 meats1033 and2532
drinks,4188 and2532 divers1313 washings,909 and2532 carnal4561
ordinances,1345 imposed1945 on them until3360 the
time2540 of reformation.1357
So we see that wherever this word "Baptizo" or a related word is
used, it always implies much water.
2. The testimony of the early church
fathers.
Note:
These thoughts do not have any authority but do have some bearing on
the thoughts presented.
110-165 AD Martyr "As many as are persuaded and believe that what we
teach and say is true, and undertake to be able to live accordingly,
are instructed to pray and to entreat God with fasting, for the
remission of their sins that are past, we praying and fasting with
them. Then they are brought by us where there is water,
and are regenerated in the same manner in which we were ourselves
regenerated. For, in the name of God, the Father and Lord of the
universe, and of our Savior Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit,
they then receive the washing with water. For Christ also said,
'Except ye be born again, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
heaven.' Now, that it is impossible for those who have once been
born to enter into their mothers' wombs, is manifest to all... And
for this we have learned from the apostles this reason. Since at our
birth we were born without our own knowledge or choice, by our
parents coming together, and were brought up in bad habits and
wicked training; in order that we may not remain the children of
necessity and of ignorance, but may become the children of choice
and knowledge, and may obtain in the water the remission of sins
formerly committed, there is pronounced over him who chooses to be
born again, and has repented of his sins, the name of God the Father
and Lord of the universe." (Justin Martyr, "First Apology,"
Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, pg. 183)
110-165AD Martyr "Those who
are convinced that what we teach is true and who desire to live
accordingly are instructed to fast and to pray to God for the
remission of all their past sins. We also pray and fast with them.
Then we bring them to a place where there is water,
and they are regenerated in the same manner in which we ourselves
were regenerated. They then receive the washing with water in the
name of God (the Father and Lord of the universe) and of our Savior
Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit. For Christ said, 'Unless you
are born again, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven"'
[John 3:5]. (Justin First Apology chant 61)
140-230 AD Tertullian "Baptism itself is a corporal act by
which we are plunged into the water, while its effect is
spiritual, in that we are freed from our sins" (Baptism 7:2).
200
AD HERMAS "And I said, 'I heard, sir, some teachers maintain that
there is no other repentance than that which takes place,
when we descended into the water and received remission
of our former sin.' He said to me, 'That was sound doctrine which
you heard; for that is really the case.'" (Hermas, "The Shepherd,"
Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 2, pg. 22)
From these entries we understand that they believers that were
baptized were brought to the waters, they were brought to a place
where there is water. If sprinkling would suffice there would be no
need for that. Water is everywhere, but no, they had to be taken to
a place where there would be water and they descended into the
water.
Joh 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Enon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
This verse testifies of
the concept that much water was needed in order to baptize. This
testifies of the fact that it was a going under water.
It is not known where "Enon" was located but it was a place of
springs.
G137
Rom 6:4 We were buried therefore with him
through baptism unto death: that like as Christ was raised from the
dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in
newness of life.
Col 2:11 in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not
made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the
circumcision of Christ;
Col 2:12 having been buried with him in
baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him through faith in the
working of God, who raised him from the dead.
Both these verses talk about a burial.
A burial implies a going under the ground. So baptism became a
baptism in water and being raised out of the water.
In Romans 6 Paul shows the "photograph"
of Jesus death, burial and resurrection in the death to sin, burial
in water and being raised to a new life. Go to a local cemetery and
see how much dirt it takes to bury someone. Even when a mausoleum is
used above ground, the body is completely enclosed. We do this to
dead bodies to prevent smelling them as they decay. It would seem
appropriate that the entire body be "separated" from those around
the baptism to separate us from the "stench" of our sins. Obviously
this is a figurative statement but one that I believe is in harmony
with the intent of the scriptures.
The word "burial" and "buried" in these verses give us insight into what this means. It is a dipping, it is a going under water.
