The Bible describes the immediate baptism of the Jailer (acts 16: 33-34) and the baptism of 3 thousand people in Jerusalem (acts 2: 37). What do Mormons say about these passages? Could these baptisms have only taken place by sprinkling (aspersion)? Why do Mormons baptize by immersion?
One Response to “The Bible describes the immediate baptism of the Jailer (act…”
Webmaster de AllAboutMormons.com
2009-10-24 23:20:27
Hi Silvano. There are two questions here:
How were baptisms performed in Christ's time?
How are baptisms performed in our days, in the restored Church of Christ?
Let me answer those two questions.
How were baptisms performed in Christ's time?
There is indisputable evidence, both Biblical and extra-Biblical, that the "standard" baptism during Christ's time was baptism by immersion. See, for example, Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:9-11, John 3:23, Acts 8:38, Romans 6:3-4, and Colossians 2:12. In fact, the Greek word "baptizo" most commonly means "immersing." Archaeological evidence suggests that it was only after the 3rd century that Christian baptism by aspersion became commonplace.
The earliest forms of baptism were likely patterned on the Jewish ritual of purification called the "Mikveh," in which the participant was fully immersed in water.
As an example of extra-Biblical evidence for baptism by immersion, consider this quote from Tertullian, an early Christian who wrote in the first century after Christ's death: "There is no difference whether one is washed in a sea or a pool, in a river or in a fountain, in a lake or in a channel: nor is there any difference between those whom John dipped in the Jordan, and those whom Peter dipped in the TiberÂ…We are immersed in the water."
It is possible that early Christians did baptize by aspersion in extreme circumstances when baptism by immersion was not possible. However, we need to be careful that we don't read too much into selected Bible passages. Many of the details of passages like those found in Acts 16:33-34 (the baptism of the jailor) and Acts 2:37 (the baptism of 3,000 people at Jerusalem) are absent, and the Bible does not specifically state that baptism by aspersion took place.
For example, Acts 16:33-34 seems to suggest that the jailor was baptized immediately in his house, but the Bible does not say he was baptized by sprinkling. For all we know, he went immediately to a nearby stream and was baptized by immersion. Some argue that 3,000 people could not have been baptized by immersion on a single day in Jerusalem. However, if two dozen people were doing the baptizing, each would only need to perform one baptism every ten minutes to administer the ordinance to all 3,000 people.
Over a period of eleven years, G. Ronald Carter performed over one million vicarious temple baptisms. That's about 250 baptisms a day. If only twelve men dedicated one day to baptizing at brother Carter's pace, they could manage 3,000 baptisms.
The Bible never mentions baptism by aspersion, but the didache does. The didache is an ancient Christian document that dates to the early second century. That ancient document teaches that baptism should be done by aspersion only if baptism by immersion is not possible. In other words, baptism by aspersion was the rare exception. It's important to note, however, that the didache likely postdates the apostolic era. The apostasy had likely already begun even at this early date. The baptism Christ taught may not have been the same as that taught in the didache, and the didache may not have been accepted by all Christians at the time of its publication.
How is Baptism Performed in Christ's Restored Church?
- How were baptisms performed in Christ's time?
- How are baptisms performed in our days, in the restored Church of Christ?
Let me answer those two questions.How were baptisms performed in Christ's time?
There is indisputable evidence, both Biblical and extra-Biblical, that the "standard" baptism during Christ's time was baptism by immersion. See, for example, Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:9-11, John 3:23, Acts 8:38, Romans 6:3-4, and Colossians 2:12. In fact, the Greek word "baptizo" most commonly means "immersing." Archaeological evidence suggests that it was only after the 3rd century that Christian baptism by aspersion became commonplace.
The earliest forms of baptism were likely patterned on the Jewish ritual of purification called the "Mikveh," in which the participant was fully immersed in water.
As an example of extra-Biblical evidence for baptism by immersion, consider this quote from Tertullian, an early Christian who wrote in the first century after Christ's death: "There is no difference whether one is washed in a sea or a pool, in a river or in a fountain, in a lake or in a channel: nor is there any difference between those whom John dipped in the Jordan, and those whom Peter dipped in the TiberÂ…We are immersed in the water."
It is possible that early Christians did baptize by aspersion in extreme circumstances when baptism by immersion was not possible. However, we need to be careful that we don't read too much into selected Bible passages. Many of the details of passages like those found in Acts 16:33-34 (the baptism of the jailor) and Acts 2:37 (the baptism of 3,000 people at Jerusalem) are absent, and the Bible does not specifically state that baptism by aspersion took place.
For example, Acts 16:33-34 seems to suggest that the jailor was baptized immediately in his house, but the Bible does not say he was baptized by sprinkling. For all we know, he went immediately to a nearby stream and was baptized by immersion. Some argue that 3,000 people could not have been baptized by immersion on a single day in Jerusalem. However, if two dozen people were doing the baptizing, each would only need to perform one baptism every ten minutes to administer the ordinance to all 3,000 people.
Over a period of eleven years, G. Ronald Carter performed over one million vicarious temple baptisms. That's about 250 baptisms a day. If only twelve men dedicated one day to baptizing at brother Carter's pace, they could manage 3,000 baptisms.
The Bible never mentions baptism by aspersion, but the didache does. The didache is an ancient Christian document that dates to the early second century. That ancient document teaches that baptism should be done by aspersion only if baptism by immersion is not possible. In other words, baptism by aspersion was the rare exception. It's important to note, however, that the didache likely postdates the apostolic era. The apostasy had likely already begun even at this early date. The baptism Christ taught may not have been the same as that taught in the didache, and the didache may not have been accepted by all Christians at the time of its publication.
How is Baptism Performed in Christ's Restored Church?
In our day, all Mormon baptisms are by immersion.