Searching the Scriptures: The Mode of Baptism
Searching the Scriptures: The Mode of Baptism
As Judson searched the Scriptures for answers to his questions, his study proceeded upon two tracks: the meaning of the word “baptism” and the significance of the ordinance in Scriptures. Regarding the first line of study, Judson made the following conclusions:
The primitive word bapto from which the word denoting baptism, is derived, signifies immersion. This, with the general consent of the Pedobaptists themselves, is as much the appropriate meaning of the Greek word, as of the English word, dip or immerse.[14]
The word denoting baptism (baptizo) is derived from the verbal of this primitive word (baptoz) by a change in the termination, which, according to an established principle in the Greek language, never affects the primary idea; but when made on words, expressing a quality or attribute, merely conveys the additional idea of causing or making.[15]
The word which denotes the act of baptizing, according to the usage of Greek writers, uniformly signifies or implies immersion.[16]
That immersion is the exclusive signification of the word, appears from the following testimonies of eminent Pedobaptist authors, whose concessions on this subject could not have been affected by Baptist partialities, but must have resulted from a conviction of truth alone.[17]
There are no instances, in the New Testament which require us to depart from the etymological and established interpretation of the word.[18]
The places chosen for the administration of the ordinance, and the circumstances attending those instances, in which the act of baptizing as particularly described, in the New Testament, plainly indicate immersion.[19]
The idea of immersion is the only one, which will suit all the various connections, in which the word is used in the New Testament.[20]
Under each point made, Judson argued extensively the various New Testament passages that supported his assertions. He was convinced that the word “baptism” must mean immersion. He notes:
But throughout the whole New Testament, I could find nothing that looked like sprinkling, in connection with the ordinance of baptism. It appeared to me, that a plain person should, without any previous information on the subject, read through the New Testament, he would never get the idea, that baptism consisted in sprinkling.[21]
Judson’s mode of baptism was scripturally settled. He would be an immersionist. One question still lingered, however: who should be baptized?