Dunk Tank Baptism

Recently I have had several conversations with people about baptism. There seems to be quite a wide range of views surrounding baptism and it seems to be quite a personal and controversial thing. A few people have said to me that we should just do what "we feel" and that it's just different for different people. But, is that really the case?

Part of me always wants a foundation and justification for positions. My teachers telling me that "because" is not an answer really stuck with me. So when I hear phrases like "I think it's", "I don't see how that", or "I feel that God would" I keep wondering what does God think and what did God convey to us? Instead of talking about what "I think" lets talk about what the bible says.

One of these baptism conversations that keeps rearing it's head is the idea of baptism by submersion. While, I'll admit that submersion does have power imagery is that the only way as several people have told me?

The Word Baptism

I think a good place to start looking at baptism is with the word baptism which is baptizo in the original greek. The other words for baptism such as baptismos and baptisma are derivative words of baptizo which means:

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

The word itself doesn't say that there is a certain way to do it and leaves both as an option.

Usage In The Bible

These 3 words are used 177 times in the new testament. Some times they are used to describe washing (example Luke 11:38) and not baptism as we know it. Of the times where the text is talking about baptism there is no mention of either if it is to be done by immersion or dipping nor is there any mention of which way they did it. So, from the text the jury is still out.

Extrabiblical Material

At this point I think it's clear that immersion isn't dictated anywhere. But, there is more written from the early church that talks about baptism outside the bible. These texts I look at differently. Are they the clear world of God? If they don't contradict anything in the bible they might be. But, the jury is out so we need to be careful with how we use these.

The Didache is one such book that supposedly what the 12 Apostles taught and contains a section on baptism. The Didache 7:3 points out that pouring water three times on the head is one method.

Early Church Art and Archeology

Both art from the early church and archeology can shed some more light on baptism. Not so much for what we should be doing but for what they were doing.

Catacombs and ruins associated with the early church often contained art in them. A common depiction in this art is John the Baptist pouring water on Jesus. Other depictions are of people in a river having water poured on them with a cup or a shell (this is where the shell symbol with baptism comes from).

In all of my searching of the art I found no art from the early church showing baptism by immersion. Several professors and scholars I read even pointed this out.

Out of the world of archeology, archaeologists have uncovered a baptistery from a 2nd century church in Nazareth. This baptistery is to small for a person to fit into.

Conclusion

There is a great amount of symbolism with immersion baptism. But, the bible doesn't say it should be this way, early church texts don't either, and early church art doesn't depict it. I'm not saying it shouldn't be done, just that it isn't a requirement.

If we want to hold to the way the early church did it than immersion isn't the way. But, I do think baptism via immersion works as long as all the other parts of baptism are observed, too.

There may be people out there who disagree with me and I welcome your comments. I would love to hear why you disagree and see your references. Please share.