Sprinkling For Baptism?
1.
The word (baptizo) from which baptism is translated means to immerse.
Liddell and Scott say baptizo means, "To dip, dip under." Berry says baptizo
means, "To bathe oneself, to immerse, to submerge." Thayer says it means, "To
dip, dip under, submerge." James Toile, in his booklet, "The One Baptism," lists
fifteen additional scholars who are in agreement. He also states, "There
is not a single reputable Greek lexicographer who defines baptizo by to
sprinkle…" The Greek word for sprinkle is rhantizo. Baptizo and rhantizo are not
used interchangeably in the Bible.
2.
While dictionaries may define baptism as either immersion or sprinkling they are
giving its current meaning.
Those who produce dictionaries examine the current use of words and give the
present meaning of words. They do not make judgments as to whether the meaning
is proper or improper, scriptural or unscriptural. Present day words may change
meanings. Therefore defining a word according to its present use does not imply
the word has always had this meaning or that it will remain the same from now
on. On the other hand, lexicons give the meaning of words as they were used at a
definite time in history. According to lexicographers baptizo, in the
scriptures, means to immerse. When the Lord said, "He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved" (Mark 16:16), he was saying, "He that believeth and is
immersed shall be saved."
3. The sprinkling of water alone on anyone for any purpose does not occur in the
scriptures.
Although water was used for sprinkling in certain cases in Old Testament times
even then it was not water alone. It contained the ashes of a red heifer
(Numbers 19:14,19). In the New Testament there is no command to sprinkle water
on anyone and no example of it being done. The word sprinkle occurs, and when it
does, it has reference to the sprinkling of blood, a practice associated with
the offering of animal sacrifices. Of the more than sixty references to water
baptism in the New Testament there is not one that allows sprinkling.
4. Sprinkling does not fit the idea of a burial, yet baptism is a burial,
"Therefore we are buried with him by baptism…" (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12)
Since immersion is a submerging in water, a covering over of water, there is the
likeness of a burial. This is not true of sprinkling.
5. Things that occurred before and after the baptisms noted in the Bible are in
harmony with immersion.
John baptized in the Jordan River {Matthew 3:6), and at a place where there was
"much water" (John 3:23). Before a baptism the person to be baptized and the
person to do the baptizing came to the water (Acts 8:36), and went down into the
water (Acts 8:38), and after the baptism had been completed they both came up
out of the water (Acts 8:39). These things lend support to the idea baptism
involved immersion.
Is there a way sprinkling can be made a substitute for immersion?
History tells us sprinkling was introduced after the Bible was completed. The
earliest recorded case occurred sometime after 250 A.D. according to Eusebius.
He tells of one (Novatian), who wanted to be baptized but was ill, possibly near
death. At the time those in charge thought he could not be immersed, so they
made a substitution. It was not until over a thousand years later, at the
council at Ravenna in 1311, a council of church men decreed immersion and
sprinkling were to be regarded with indifference. In other words, one was then
thought to work as well as the other. In these cases and in any others made
during the centuries to follow, the decision to accept sprinkling was made by
men. Based on the scriptures, it is impossible to link sprinkling to baptism or
to anything said by our Lord. Making sprinkling a substitute for immersion lacks
divine approval, unless, of course, men have authority to change the gospel of
Christ, and this has not been given (Galatians 1:8,9). If men decide to follow
the written word of God they will soon come to realize there is no support for
sprinkling.
Where does this leave us?
An alien sinner who longs for God's forgiveness needs to read the scriptures. He
is to believe in God (Hebrews 11:6), and in Jesus (John 8:24). He is to repent
of his sins (Luke 13:3; Acts 2:38), confess his faith in Christ (Acts 8:37;
Romans 10:10), and be immersed to wash his sins away (Acts 22: 16; 1 Peter
3:21).
If you should be relying on sprinkling as a substitute for immersion would it
not be wise to re-examine the matter?
There is a great deal at stake. We must not be indifferent when it comes to our
relationship with God. We must do his will. Jesus said our eternal destiny
depends on our doing so (Matthew 7:21).