BAPTIZO IN THE SCRIPTURE: A WORD USAGE STUDY
By Revd Dr. Ifechukwu U. Ibeme
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PriscAquila Christian Resource Centre

Christian Baptism has encountered several controversies, misconceptions and misuse over the years. This has been mainly because the common thinking about and usage of the word "BAPTISM" in recent times is not the same with that of the Scriptures. For instance, most arguments, theories, doctrines, practices and traditions about Christian Baptism are based on man-made but UN- BIBLICAL issues which are:
(1) By what mode must one be baptised INTO WATER?
(2) What must be the FIRST EVIDENCE of one baptised INTO THE HOLY SPIRIT?

These concepts take root from our worldly minds and certainly not from the inspired writings of the Bible. Christ was interested in covenanting souls into His Name and Body eternally, but the world is concerned about temporary immersion into the water element. Christ's focus was on the eternal purpose of the Holy Spirit Baptism, but the world is splitting hairs on what the first temporary evidence must be. As Christians supposedly guided by the Scripture, we must strive to abandon our mundane Gentile ways of thinking and learn to think like the Scripture in order to avoid being in error. Let us now get our thought and usage right.

First, the Bible does not talk about Baptism INTO ("eis" Greek) Water! Are you surprised about this? Rather the Bible talks about Baptism WITH or BY ("en" Greek) Water!

Second, the Scripture does not talk about Baptism INTO ("eis" Greek) the Holy Spirit, rather it speaks of using the Holy Spirit to do Baptism i.e. Baptism WITH or BY ("en" Greek) the Holy Spirit.

Thirdly, the Scripture always talks about Christian Baptism as a baptism:
1. (a) INTO ("eis" Greek) THE NAME of the Three-One God (Matt. 28: 19).
(b) FOR/INTO ("eis" Greek) REMISSION of sins (Acts 2:38).
(c) INTO ("eis" Greek) THE NAME of the Lord Jesus (Acts 8:16;19:5).
All the above refer to Water Baptism or Ritual cleansing Regeneration. (i.e. INITIATION).

2. (a) INTO ("eis" Greek) Christ (Jesus) (Rom. 6:3; Gal. 3:27).
(b) INTO ("eis" Greek) (Christ's) Death (Rom 6:3-4).
(c) INTO ("eis" Greek) (Christ's) Body (1 Cor.12:13)
All these refer to Spirit Baptism or Spiritual renewing Regeneration. (i.e. INCORPORATION).

Note that the Greek preposition `eis' is always consistent in its use relative to Baptism in the N.T.. However the English translators are not always consistent in their renderings of the word, hence the variations. Consistency in renderings is generally maintained more in the Revised Version, American Standard Version and J. N. Darby's Version

Fourthly, the Word of God distinguishes Christian Baptism from other baptisms such as: INTO Moses (1Cor. 10:2) and INTO THE NAME of Paul (1 Cor. 1:13,15) and INTO John (Acts 19:3), though the usage is still with the same "eis".

Fifthly, the inspired writings speak about Baptism taking place at (not into) the Wilderness (Mk.1:4), at (not into) Bethany (Jn.1:28), at (not into) Jordan (Matt.3:6), at (not into) Cornelius' House (Acts 10), at (not into) Jerusalem (Acts 2), at (not into) Philippian Jail (Acts 16), at (not into) Samaria (Acts 8).

By now I believe it has become a bit clear to us that many of us are mistaken about the use and meaning of BAPTISM and BAPTISE. Following the Scriptural sense and usage of the word, Baptism is done:
(i) AT a place (Bethany, Jordan, Wilderness etc) not into these
(ii) WITH or BY an agent or instrument (Water, Holy Spirit, Fire, Sea, Cloud, Blood), not into these, and
(iii) INTO a recipient subject (the Lord or the Lord's name, Moses, John, Paul's name).
Again whenever Baptism is mentioned in the Bible, the key question is not WHAT MODE or WHERE or WHEN but usually INTO ("eis" Greek) WHOM was the Baptism done? (Acts.19:3). May God help us to think in Scriptural terms to avoid error as Jesus put it in Matt. 22:29:

"You are
--Rev Dr I. U. Ibeme
<mailto:[email protected]>

Hi,
I came to Maiduguri as a Youth Corp member in 1989 and have been a worshipper with the Chapel Of Grace, University of Maiduguri since 1990. It's a wonderful place to join in fellowship with other brethren who are called by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. On sundays,there's an exciting,heart-rendering and thought-provoking Bible study
from 8-9am; followed by a regular morning worship service from 9-11.15am. Two worship/musical groups feature every sunday morning:The LIVING SOUND BAND, which uses
musical instruments(guitars,piano, and percussions)in praise of Jeehovah in a more contemporary style; and the HAPEL OF GRACE CHOIR, which features classical-style music in English and traditional Nigerian languages. There's REVIVAL HOUR from 4.30-5.30pm every sunday evening, which features a variety of programmes that will edify you. On Thursdays, there's PRAYER MEETING from 5-6pm. All these are power-packed as a variety of men/women of God are invited to minister to us. Reverend (Dr) U I Ibeme, in particular, has indepth knowledge of the word of God and very incisive in presenting God's word to his audience. You'll be blessed through his ministry and many other Ministers of God.
My family are blessed to be a part of this bigger family of God in the Chapel, and we invite you to join us and make your contribution to what God is doing in the Chapel of Grace.
With Love,
Dr Haruna, Iya, Tehillah, Emmanuel, Ayuba
Dr Haruna k Ayuba, was Assistant Service secretary and Service Secretary respectively from 1998-2002 and 2002-2006 in the Chapel of Grace. He also heads the Living Sound Band (1998-to date).
--Dr Haruna K Ayuba
<mailto:[email protected]>

Hi,
I came to Maiduguri as a Youth Corp member in 1989 and have been a worshipper with the Chapel Of Grace, University of Maiduguri since 1990. It's a wonderful place to join in fellowship with other brethren who are called by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. On sundays,there's an exciting,heart-rendering and thought-provoking Bible study from 8-9am; followed by a regular morning worship service from 9-11.15am. Two worship/musical groups feature every sunday morning:The LIVING SOUND BAND, which uses
musical instruments(guitars,piano, and percussions)in praise of Jehovah in a more contemporary style; and the CHAPEL OF GRACE CHOIR, which features classical-style music in English and traditional Nigerian languages. There's REVIVAL HOUR from 4.30-5.30pm every sunday evening, which features a variety of programmes that will edify you. On Thursdays, there's PRAYER MEETING from 5-6pm. All these are power-packed as a variety of men/women of God are invited to minister to us. Reverend (Dr) U I Ibeme, in particular, has indepth knowledge of the word of God and very incisive in presenting God's word to his audience. You'll be blessed through his ministry and many other Ministers of God.
My family are blessed to be a part of this bigger family of God in the Chapel, and we invite you to join us and make your contribution to what God is doing in the Chapel of Grace.
With Love,
Dr Haruna, Iya, Tehillah, Emmanuel, Ayuba
Dr Haruna k Ayuba, was Assistant Service secretary and Service Secretary respectively from 1998-2002 and 2002-2006 in the Chapel of Grace. He also heads the Living Sound Band (1998-to date).
--Dr Haruna K Ayuba
<mailto:[email protected]>

HELLO ALL YOU BELOVED OF THE LORD,

Whatever you do,
DON’T FORGET to give everyone you meet the golden opportunity of hearing the GOODNEWS of Christ. Who knows? He/She might take the opportunity to receive the free and only sure salvation from the condemnation of sin!

The Evangel or Good News of the Kingdom which we preach is simply this:

that THERE IS NOW THE BLESSING OF REMISSION OF SINS (OR SALVATION FROM SIN) FOR ANYONE WHO REPENTS AND BELIEVES IN CHRIST AS THE SAVIOUR AND LORD WHO DIED FOR OUR SINS AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD TO BE THE JUDGE OF ALL.

Many other things said are for exhortation and testimony to convince our hearers as stated in Acts 2:40; 18:28.

Visit my Web Homepage: www.geocities.com/ifeogo


--Ven Dr I. U. IBEME
<mailto:[email protected]>