Another Baptizo

The New Testament Greek Lexicon
Strong's Number: 907 baptiðzw

Original Word Word Origin
baptiðzw from a derivative of (911)

Transliterated Word Phonetic Spelling
Baptizo bap-tid'-zo
Parts of Speech TDNT
1:529,92

Definition
to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk)
to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash one's self, bathe
to overwhelm

Not to be confused with 911, bapto. The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be 'dipped' (bapto) into boiling water and then 'baptised' (baptizo) in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution. But the first is temporary. The second, the act of baptising the vegetable, produces a permanent change. When used in the New Testament, this word more often refers to our union and identification with Christ than to our water baptism. e.g. Mark 16:16. 'He that believes and is baptised shall be saved'. Christ is saying that mere intellectual assent is not enough. There must be a union with him, a real change, like the vegetable to the pickle! Bible Study Magazine, James Montgomery Boice, May 1989.


Translated Words
KJV (80) - baptist, 1; baptize, 76; baptized + (2258), 1; wash, 2;
NAS (76) - Baptist, 3; baptize, 9; baptized, 51; baptizes, 1; baptizing, 10; ceremonially washed, 1; undergo, 1;



Verse Count
KJV NAS
Matthew 8
Mark 9
Luke 8
John 11
Acts 19
Romans 1
1 Corinthians 8
Galatians 1
Matthew 6
Mark 9
Luke 8
John 11
Acts 19
Romans 1
1 Corinthians 8
Galatians 1



TDNT - Theological Dictionary of the New Testament;
Copyright Statement
The New Testament Greek Lexicon based on Thayer's and Smith's Bible Dictionary plus others; this is keyed to the large Kittel and the "Theological Dictionary of the New Testament." These files are public domain.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible with Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries. Copyright © 1981, 1998 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

Bibliography Information
Thayer and Smith. "Greek Lexicon entry for Baptizo". "The New Testament Greek Lexicon".
<http://www.searchgodsword.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=907>.

So I bet this isn't what you wanted, right? best I could do.

Well I tried.
Sherrie

[ January 18, 2003, 03:31 AM: Message edited by: Sherrie ]

 

Go to a Greek clothier and ask for a garment to be "baptized" in the dye. You would not be very happy if he sprinkled it,,,rather spotty finish....He will not question the meaning of baptize and will immerse the garment in the dye to do a thorough job of it. The word is quite common to Greek cleaners even to this day.

Cheers,

Jim

 

For the most part, the main arguments I have heard over the years from sprinklers and pourers was, "yes, the N. T. mode was immersion, but it wasn't intended to be dogmatic or universal," or "it really doesn't matter." Abiyah, this may not directly address your question, but I have in my library only one small work that actually attempts to prove that immersion was not the New Testament mode of baptism - Baptism - Its Mode and How Immersion Could Be Obviated by Searching the Word of God. It is a small booklet of 15 pages and is available from the Gospel Tract & Bible Society of the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, Moundridge, KS 61707. Their arguments seem to be [1] the greater baptism of the Holy Spirit is by pouring and therefore the lesser baptism of water should also be; [2] baptism and pouring are used interchangeably (Jn. 4:14; Mt. 3:ll; Acts 2; Joel 2:28; Acts 1:5); [3] the baptism of Moses & the Israelites in the cloud & in the sea; [4] that pouring is applicable to all climatic conditions and any possible conditions of ailment in the candidate; [5] its harmonization with I John 5:8 (i.e. the Spirit, blood, & water were all poured out); and [6] fulfilled prophecies (e.g. Isa. 44:3; Eze. 36:25; Joel 2:28; Zech. 12:10). They do not really deal with the word baptizo directly. Of course, I do not agree with any of their positions printed, but I did find it interesting that someone was actually making a "scriptural" argument for their practice of pouring.

 

I am not trying to be conclusive here "for I knoweth not". I do not believe the word "immerse" was active or even thought of until the later half of the 1600's. In other words, it wasn't a word. What choice was available? What choice was best? I believe the one that the Lord gave to us through the preservation of truth.

Thanks ------Bart