And very importantly, what does it not mean? These are critical questions that must be asked in order to understand Christian baptism.
What is the “act” of Baptism? In fact, is baptism essentially an “act”? Several authors have answered this question in the affirmative and have concluded that it is an act. But what act?
Baptists answer these questions about the “act” of baptism by saying:
“To immerse is to baptize, and to baptize is to immerse.” Treaty of AR, London, 1644 – This document was introduced to America by Roger Williams.
Next we read this: “The word baptize necessarily includes in its meaning to immerse, and that when Christ commanded to baptize, he only commanded to immerse.” p. 96, John Gale
Further we read: “When our Lord says, ‘Go, baptize,’ he speaks the language of legislation; he delivers divine law. Does Jehovah employ a term which properly means to immerse? He means as he speaks and requires immersion.” Abraham Booth, London , 1711. Note the misunderstanding, to command immersion requires immersion.
And in a very simple way we have this statement: “The idea of immersing is in each case…” Pg 46, FA Cox, 1824.
And we must not forget the great Baptist writer Alexander Carson: “Baptidzo, in the entire history of the Greek language, has only one [meaning]. It not only means to sink or submerge, but it never has any other meaning.” Alexander Carson, Baptist Board of Publications, Philadelphia, 1853. Again, notice the transition from submerging to submerging.
And again we read: “In all translations of classic works Baptidzo is translated, immerse, immerse.” P. 10, R. Fuller, Southern Baptist Publication Board, Charleston, 1859. What is it, submerge or submerge?
And finally: “Baptidzo, in the entire history of the Greek language, has only one meaning. It means to immerse or submerge, and it never has another meaning.” p. 13, MP Jewett, Boston, 1854.
The mixture of the acts of immersion and immersion is common among these writers.
The problem with these definitions is this: immerse and submerge are two words that cannot be interchanged. To wet is to quickly put on and take off. Immersion is a condition of “inside” or envelope that lacks the intent or power of elimination. Submerging is not submerging and submerging is not submerging. Each word has a distinct and different meaning, both in English and in Greek.
These various translations of Baptidzo, though not consistent with each other, are the most common in Baptist circles. But Baptidzo is not an act, but a changed condition, state, result, or effect brought about by any one of several possible acts.
Those who are commonly called Baptists define Baptidzo entirely as an act. However, as we have seen, over the years they have not agreed on what specifically this act is. Some suggested acts would be: imbathe (an act), overwhelm (a condition), submerge (an act), submerge (a condition), submerge (an act) and submerge (a condition). In recent years, they have more often adopted immersion (an act) as the proper mode of baptism, but surprisingly, they inevitably write it immerse (a condition of envelopment). The reason for this is simple, Baptidzo does not mean immerse- Bapto does. However, since the Bible does not use the word Bapto to describe a Christian baptism, that creates a problem. However, for Baptists, immerse (go down and then get up again rather quickly) is the perfect word because that is precisely what they do at their baptisms. Unfortunately, it is not the word used in the Bible. “All Greek writers refuse to interchange Baptidzo and Bapto; the Holy Ghost persistently refuses to use Bapto, or interchange it, in one instance, with Baptidzo in speaking of Christian baptism…”
So immerse has become the word of choice; and it’s not a bad translation if you understand what it means to immerse: to place (a state of “in” or envelopment) and leave in. But Baptidzo does not possess the intent or power to draw out of this enveloping condition, and is therefore a poor substitute for immersion.
This is quite problematic for Baptists since they don’t actually immerse themselves. As said, immerse means to place in some fluid without time limitation. In other words, Baptists believe that “the Holy Spirit has employed a word which absolutely requires that the disciples be immersed in the water without making any provision for their withdrawal…” Bapto (immersion) solves that problem, but is is not the Biblical word used for Christian baptism.