[Steven Avery]

Originally Posted by Luke

Baptizo - Greek, meaning to immerse.
Baptise - English, meaning to immerse.

Hi Luke,

The problem with this simple explanation is that it is questionable on both counts.

Before the counts I will remind you that the English baptism does not = immersion. People are immersed all the time in swimming and diving and in the bathtub without being baptized. Baptism is a very distinct word having to do with a Christian Bible application of water only. Not only water, there can be baptism in other forms.

Putting that very substantial distinction aside we also have :

The Greek difficulty which I showed in depth in the post above. By looking at the verses where the word 'baptizo' is used you find many verses where 'immersion' is simply not a good definition. In those verses you cannot substitute 'immersion' for the Greek word and get a sensible and accurate English sentence. We should not pretend otherwise and make a definitional claim from perspective rather than sound scholarship.

And this is confirmed by those who go into the auxiliary ancient Greek literature. We do not need to do that, since the Bible shows us cases where baptizo is not comfortably defined as the English 'immersion'.

Now we know through simple and clear Biblical exegesis that:
proper and valid and efficacious water baptism is by immersion.
If we cannot demonstrate that to others, then we should review our Bible interpretation and explanation skills. (While those in spiritual rebellion may not receive what we share the Bible itself is crystal clear.)

The following sentence is in fact proper English :

"the RCC baptizes infants, even though the necessary Biblical connection with repentance is completely lacking"

It is in fact true that the RCC 'baptizes' infants.

Here is the definition of the word baptism given in the 1828 Webster.

"The application of water to a person, as a sacrament or religious ceremony, by which he is initiated into the visible church of Christ. This is usually performed by sprinkling or immersion."

Well the RCC is not the "visible church of Christ", so that part of the 1828 definition is subject to controversial parlance debate, since the dictionary is taking a 'big tent' approach. However, in general the 1828 is properly connecting the English word baptism with the church of Christ. The 1828 does not make a distinction between what is valid and what is invalid baptism.

And we know that sprinkling is a type of baptism that is not efficacious, you could even say that functionally it is a counterfeit.

Originally Posted by Luke

Baptise IS an English word, and has it's root in the Greek. It's not an untranslated word. It's translated into English.

True.

Shalom,
Steven