{"id":2747,"date":"2018-09-27T08:49:36","date_gmt":"2018-09-27T07:49:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/?p=2747"},"modified":"2018-09-27T08:49:36","modified_gmt":"2018-09-27T07:49:36","slug":"baptism-new-testament","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/baptism-new-testament\/","title":{"rendered":"Baptism &#8211; in the New Testament"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In this study we give some thought to a few texts from the New Testament with reference to baptism\/immersion<strong> \u2018in\u2019<\/strong> the name of \u2026<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Acts 2:38 &#8211; baptism <strong>in (Greek: epi)<\/strong> the name of Jesus Christ<\/li>\n<li>Matthew 28:19 &#8211; baptism <strong>in (Greek: eis)<\/strong> the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit<\/li>\n<li>Acts 8:16 &#8211; baptism<strong> in (Greek: eis)<\/strong> the name of Jesus<\/li>\n<li>Acts 19:3-5 &#8211; baptism <strong>in (Greek: eis)<\/strong> the name of Jesus<\/li>\n<li>Acts 10:48 &#8211; baptism<strong> in (Greek: en)<\/strong> the name of Jesus<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The meaning of the little Greek words <strong>\u2018epi\u2019, \u2018eis\u2019<\/strong> and <strong>\u2018en\u2019<\/strong> is a determining factor in the interpretation of these texts.<br \/>\nThe distinction between these three little words is explained in the study \u2018<a title=\"Word study of the little Greek words epi, en, eis\" href=\"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/word-study-little-greek-words-epi-en-eis\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Word study<\/span><\/a> of the little Greek words epi, en, eis\u2019.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Remark:<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nWithout mentioning the fact explicitly, it is assumed in this study that the correct meaning of <a title=\"Baptism \u2013 word study\" href=\"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/baptism-word-study\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>\u2018baptism\u2019<\/strong><\/span><\/a> is <strong>\u2018immersion\u2019<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Acts 2:38 &#8211; baptism in (epi) the name \u2026<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Peter brings the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the crowd that rushes together when the Holy Spirit is poured out on the Day of Pentecost,.<br \/>\nWhen the people ask: What shall we do? He answers:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Repent and <strong>be baptised<\/strong>, every one of you, <strong>in (epi) the name of Jesus Christ <\/strong>for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 2:38)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Baptism by immersion was well-known in Jewish tradition, think of John the Baptist.<br \/>\nThis is why Peter emphasizes the fact that one, after conversion, must be baptised <strong>in<\/strong> (Greek: <strong>epi<\/strong> \u2013 to be interpreted here as: <strong>in relationship to) the name of Jesus Christ<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Peter distinguishes this baptism from tradition by connecting it with the name of Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n<p>Notice that he mentions <strong>only<\/strong> the name of Jesus Christ in connection with this baptism after conversion.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Matthew 28:19 &#8211; baptism in (eis) the name \u2026<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Just before Jesus was to leave this world He told His disciples that all power\/authority had been given to Him, both in heaven and on earth.<br \/>\nHe then sends His disciples into the world with the words:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.\u00a0\u00a0 (Matthew 28:19)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This text in a more literal translation:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Therefore, following your way, make all nations to be my <strong>disciples<\/strong>, <strong>immersing<\/strong> them <strong>in (eis: into)<\/strong> the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, <strong>teaching<\/strong> them to pay careful attention to everything I assigned to you.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Concerning baptism\/immersion:<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\n<strong>Water baptism is not necessarily meant<\/strong> by immersion.<br \/>\nBaptism\/immersion, the Greek word\u00a0<strong> \u2018baptiso\u2019<\/strong>, speaks of <strong>cleansing by immersion<\/strong> as well in fact.<br \/>\nIn that way, teaching is also a baptism\/an immersion, as Jesus told His disciples:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>You are already <strong>clean because of the word<\/strong> I have spoken to you \u2026\u00a0\u00a0 (John 15:3)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Expressed otherwise: You are now clean because of the word in which I have immersed you.<br \/>\nOr, as Paul says, that:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, <strong>cleansing<\/strong> her <strong>by (Greek \u2018en\u2019 = in) the washing with water through the word,<\/strong> \u2026\u00a0\u00a0 (Ephesians 5:25-26)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Think too of the statement of Jesus to His disciples:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>I have a baptism\/immersion to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!\u00a0\u00a0 (Luke 12:50)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Or, as Mark writes that Jesus says to James and John:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptised\/immersed with the baptism\/immersion I am baptised\/immersed?\u00a0\u00a0 (Mark 10:38)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It is clear that Jesus is referring here to the suffering that He must be \u2018immersed\u2019 in, so that the sin of the world can be taken away.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Interpretation of the text:<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nJesus gives His disciples the assignment to make all nations to be His disciples.<br \/>\nHe means not only converting them, but also teaching them continually and instructing them to carefully put everything He taught the disciples into practice.<br \/>\nThis also explains the use of the participle:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>\u2026 make all nations to be my <strong>disciples<\/strong>, <strong>immersing<\/strong> them <strong>in (eis: into)<\/strong> the name \u2026, <strong>teaching<\/strong> them carefully to pay attention <strong>to everything<\/strong> I assigned to you.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Biblical teaching is:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong> continual immersion in the name, the authority of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>and continual immersion in the teaching of Jesus.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is not teaching whereby one is only taught how to behave as a Christian according to the Bible, but teaching people in such a manner that they put their trust completely in the Almighty God, as the Trinity.<\/p>\n<p>This is explained in the studies <a title=\"Believing in Jesus Christ\" href=\"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/believing-jesus-christ\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u2018Believing in Jesus Christ\u2019<\/span><\/a> and <a title=\"In my name \/ In the name of\" href=\"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/name-name\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">\u2018In my name\/in the name of\u2019<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Acts 8:16 &#8211; baptism in (eis) the name \u2026<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Jesus\u2019 disciples departed from Jerusalem because of persecution.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 8:5)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><em>But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised\/immersed, both men and women.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 8:12)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><em>When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, &#8230;\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 8:14-15)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>This was necessary:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>&#8230; because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; <strong>they had simply been baptised\/immersed in (into) the name of the Lord Jesus<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 8:16)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Question:<\/strong><\/span><br \/>\nHad the Holy Spirit not yet come on any of them because they were baptised <strong>only in the name of the Lord Jesus<\/strong> and not, as is usually the case, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit?<br \/>\nOr is this verse <strong>not<\/strong> about water baptism?<\/p>\n<p>Philip had proclaimed the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and of the name of Jesus Christ to the Samaritans (verse 12).<br \/>\nThe Samaritans were immersed by Philip <strong>in (eis: into)<\/strong> the name (the authority) of God and of Jesus Christ, according to Jesus\u2019 instruction in Matthew 28:19.<br \/>\nWhoever believed in this preaching was baptised <strong>in (en)<\/strong> water by Philip.<\/p>\n<p>Philip had apparently <strong>not<\/strong> taught\/immersed the Samaritans <strong>in (eis: into) the authority of the Holy Spirit<\/strong> however.<br \/>\nWhen Peter and John arrived they will firstly have taught\/immersed the Samaritans <strong>in (eis: into)<\/strong> the Holy Spirit, so that the believers would also be <a title=\"The baptism in the Holy Spirit\" href=\"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/baptism-holy-spirit\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">immersed <strong>in (en)<\/strong> the Holy Spirit<\/span><\/a>, which then took place:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 8:17)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Acts 19:3-5 &#8211; baptism in (eis) the name \u2026.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Paul meets a few disciples in Ephesus. He asks them whether they received the Holy Spirit when they were converted. They did not even know that the Holy Spirit existed, however.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>So Paul asked, \u201cThen what baptism did you receive? <strong>(what: (eis: into)<\/strong> what were you baptised)\u201d \u201cJohn\u2019s baptism,\u201d they replied.<br \/>\n(Acts 19:3)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>These disciples had received <strong>no teaching<\/strong> about the Holy Spirit.<br \/>\nThey had been taught by Ap\u00f3llos, who had only heard of the teaching and the baptism of John, as Paul said:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>John\u2019s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He <strong>told the people to believe in (eis: into)<\/strong> the one coming after him, that is,<strong> in (eis: into)<\/strong> Jesus.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 19:4)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p><em>On hearing this, they were<strong> baptised\/immersed in (eis: into)<\/strong> the name of the Lord Jesus.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 19:5)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It is generally accepted that these disciples from Ephesus were baptised in water again, this time <strong>in the name of the Lord Jesus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>There is also another possible explanation.<\/strong><br \/>\nPaul was not actually someone who was seeking to baptise people.<br \/>\nHe told the Corinthians, a large church founded by him, that he only baptised two people and a family from that church:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>\u2026 so no one can say that you were baptized in (eis: into) my name.\u00a0\u00a0 (1 Corinthians 1:15)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>For, he says:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, \u2026\u00a0\u00a0 (1 Corinthians 1:17)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>It does not seem to be in Paul\u2019s nature to baptise people.<br \/>\nHe therefore does not ask <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>in what (en)<\/strong><\/span> the disciples from Ephesus were baptised, for that was certainly in water.<br \/>\nHe asks <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>into what (eis)<\/strong><\/span> they were baptised.<br \/>\nExpressed otherwise: <strong>To which baptism did you come?<\/strong><br \/>\nOr: Which <strong>teaching<\/strong> have you received, on the basis of which you were baptised?<\/p>\n<p>Paul then also tells the believers in Ephesus that John the Baptist said that one must believe <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">in<\/span> (eis: into)<\/strong> Jesus.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>On hearing this, they were baptised <strong>in (eis: into)<\/strong> the name of the Lord Jesus.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 19:5)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>That would mean that they were <strong>immersed in the teaching<\/strong> about Jesus.<br \/>\nWhether Paul also immersed them in water afterwards, <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">in<\/span> (en)<\/strong> the name of Jesus, is not clear.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Acts 10:48 &#8211; baptism in (en) the name \u2026.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Peter is invited by Cornelius, an army captain:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 10:1-2)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Cornelius was already <strong>aware of the teaching of Jesus<\/strong> according to verse 37.<br \/>\nPeter confirms the truth of what Cornelius has heard about Jesus and arrives at the crux of his message with the words:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes\/trusts in (eis: into) him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 10:43)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Apparently, as a result, the pieces of the puzzle fall in place for Cornelius and his household and God confirms their faith\/trust, for:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 10:44)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Peter then orders:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>\u2026 that they be baptized <strong>in (en) the name of Jesus Christ<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 (Acts 10:48)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Notice that Peter orders that they be baptised <strong>only<\/strong> in the name of the Here Jesus.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Conclusion:<\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Biblical teaching is directed towards <strong>immersing<\/strong> converts <strong>into (eis)<\/strong> the authority of God the Father, of Jesus Christ and of the Holy Spirit.<br \/>\nThis teaching must result in a convert\u2019s <strong>going on to live as a disciple in (en) the authority of Jesus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>As Jesus said:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p><em>On that day you will realize that I am <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">in<\/span> (en)<\/strong> my Father, and you are <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">in<\/span> (en)<\/strong> me, and I am <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">in<\/span> (en)<\/strong> you.\u00a0\u00a0 (John 14:20)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>\u2018In\u2019<\/strong>, as a translation of the Greek<strong> \u2018en\u2019<\/strong>, always refers here to the <strong>place of action<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Whoever is taught and goes on to believe\/trust <strong>into (eis)<\/strong> Jesus and live as a disciple <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">in<\/span> (en)<\/strong> His authority as a result, should be <a title=\"Baptism \u2013 in water and in the Holy Spirit\" href=\"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/baptism-water-holy-spirit\/\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">immersed <strong>in (en)<\/strong> water<\/span><\/a> <strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">in<\/span> (en) the name (authority) of Jesus<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Print this study as a PDF document:<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/www.manual4life.org\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/09\/Baptism-in-the-New-Testament.pdf\">Baptism &#8211; in the New Testament.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this study we give some thought to a few texts from the New Testament with reference to baptism\/immersion \u2018in\u2019 the name of \u2026 Acts 2:38 &#8211; baptism in (Greek: epi) the name of Jesus Christ Matthew 28:19 &#8211; baptism in (Greek: eis) the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Acts [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2747"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2747"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2764,"href":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2747\/revisions\/2764"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2747"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/delevensschool.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}