The Case For Baptism By Immersion

 

In this article I will show arguments for baptism by immersion, and answer common arguments.

"Baptizo"

The Greek word used for "Baptism" is "Baptizo", which refers to immersion, here is a Greek dictionary on the word:

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

baptize, wash.

From a derivative of bapto; to immerse, submerge; to make whelmed (i.e. Fully wet); used only (in the New Testament) of ceremonial ablution, especially (technically) of the ordinance of Christian baptism -- Baptist, baptize, wash.

"Coming up out of the water"

Mark 1:10 declares "And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove." 

Greek (Byzantine majority): και ευθεως αναβαινων απο του υδατος ειδεν σχιζομενους τους ουρανους και το πνευμα ωσει περιστεραν καταβαινον επ αυτον

The Greek word used is "apo", which means "of the place whence anything is, comes, befalls, is taken
", thus it refers to coming literally "out of" the water, however for that to have happened, Jesus must have been "inside" the water, thus immersed.

Some Presbyterians object that there wasn't enough water in the Jordan to immerse, yet going directly against what the bible says in John 3:23: "Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized." Why would John want to find a place with a lot of water in order to Baptize if he was just sprinkling?

Persons being immersed where Jesus was Baptized (Al-Maghtas)
Image author: Davide Mauro

"Buried with Him through baptism"

Romans 6:4 declares: "Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

Baptism symbolizes being raised with Christ, this symbolism is effectively broken without immersion, as sprinkling cannot mirror being risen again, unlike in immersion where we go in and then out.

Doesn't Acts 2:41 imply sprinkling?

Argument: The number of people baptized in one day is too high to baptize in one day by the Apostles

Answer: Nowhere does scripture say only the Apostles or elders alone can baptize, instead each Christian is a priest before the Lord and is able to baptize, there was thus more than enough time.