Bible Answers
Question: What are the Scriptural modes of baptism?
ANSWER: Mode means "particular forms" or "manner of doing." We are asked then, what are the Scriptural forms of baptism? or, what are the actions (manner of doing) of baptizing? The question implies that there is a plurality of forms or actions, all of which are called "baptism." What say the Scriptures?
The Bible teaches that baptism is an action itself. "To baptize" is a verb and is descriptive of the action of "immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, to dip)." (Page 96, Vol. I, An Expository Dictionary of N.T. Words, by W. E. Vine; the same general definition is given by all reputable Greek lexicons.) Any other action is not baptism. To say that a person can be baptized by sprinkling or pouring is a contradiction of terms, equivalent to saying that one can run by walking or riding, smile by frowning or scowling, or eat by abstinence or regurgitation.
"Baptism" is an anglicized word that was coined in 1611 in the translation of the King James' Version. Sprinkling was introduced as a substitute for and on a parity with baptism at the Council of Ravenna in 1311 and subsequently has been adopted by protestant denominationalism. In the 1600's when the Anglican translators were confronted with translating the Greek baptizo (and other forms) into English, they found themselves in a dilemma. To translate baptizo "to immerse" would be to deny authority for their practice of sprinkling. On the other hand, to render baptizo "to sprinkle" would be a travesty and a reproach against their scholarship. And so, as a compromise, the translators simply transliterated the Greek word into English and introduced into the English language a new word -- "baptism." Affusionists capitalized upon the resulting confusion (as people inquired as to the meaning of this new word) by telling the uninformed that "baptism" embraces several actions or modes. But this is not so, the scholarship of the world to witness, besides the Scriptures' own indirect definition.
The Bible describes the form of baptism as a BURIAL: "we are buried with him by baptism." (Rom. 6:4; see also Col. 2:12)
Notice also what is involved in the action of baptism as described in the Bible:
(1) Came to the water: "They came to a certain water." (Acts 8:36)
(2) Much water: "There was much water there: and they came. and were baptized." (John 3:23)
(3) Went into the water: "Both went down into the water." (Acts 8:38)
(4) Buried or planted: "Buried with him in baptism." (Col. 2:12); "planted together in the likeness of his death." (Rom. 6:5)
(5) Resurrected: "Ye were also raised with him" (Col. 2:12); "raised to walk in newness of life." (Rom. 6:4)
(6) Up out of the water: "They came up out of the water." (Acts 8:39); "coming up out of the water." (Mark 1:10)
Summarized, baptism involves going to much water, a going down into the water, being buried in the water and being raised from it, and a coming up out of the water. Who can fail to see the action of baptism here?
In baptism one imitates the death of Christ, and as He died one becomes dead to sin, puts off the old man, and is raised to walk in a newness of life even as He was raised by the glory of the Father. (Rom. 6:3-7) In baptism one is baptized into His death, wherein He shed His blood for a remission of sins for many Matt. 26:28), and therein receives a remission of sins. (Acts 2:38) The purpose of baptism, then, is to be "saved" (Mark 16:16), to "put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27), to enter "into Christ" (Rom. 6:4; Gal. 3:27), to have "the answer of a good conscience toward God." (I Pet. 3:21) As Noah was delivered by the water of the flood from a sinful world, after a true likeness, "baptism doth also now save us." (I Pet. 3:21)