Bap-ti-zəm:
a Christian sacrament marked by ritual use of water and admitting the recipient to the Christian community.
- Websters

What does the word “Baptize” mean?

The word “baptize” in every occurrence it is found in the Bible is translated from the Greek verb “baptizo” {bap-tid’-zo}. The meaning of baptizo is; to immerse, submerge, or overwhelm. It is used referring to water baptisms, Holy Spirit baptisms, overwhelming sufferings and Old Testament purification rites. This word should not be confused with “bapto”, a word that in the Bible is never translated as baptize, but only as “dip.” Both words refer to immersion or submersion but they have different usages. A good example showing the difference in usage of the two words is in a recipe for making pickles written by the Greek poet and physician Nicander who lived about 200 B.C. Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be ‘dipped’ (bapto) into boiling water and then ‘baptized’ (baptizo) into a vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution, but the first is a temporary dunking, while the second, the act of “baptizing” is the change in which the vegetable stays in union with the solution. So we see that “baptizo” was describing the spiritual event signified - not the mode of the ordinance.

The word “baptism” is translated from two Greek nouns. Both are derived from the word baptizo. The first is “baptisma” {bap’-tis-ma}, which is always translated as “baptism” in the Bible. It is used of overwhelming calamities and afflictions, of John’s baptism, and of Christian baptism. The second is “baptismos”. It is used of Christian baptism and of the purifyings prescribed by the Mosaic law.

Forms of the word baptize are used in several different ways, as shown below, all having some connection to the meaning of immerse or overwhelm.

Baptism of Suffering

Jesus used the word in referring to a “baptism of suffering”, or being overwhelmed with suffering in Mark 10:38-39: “. . . can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? And be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? . . . Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:” Also in Luke 12:50: “But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straightened till it be accomplished!”

Baptism of the Holy Ghost

“For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.”
- Acts 1:5

The baptism of the Holy Ghost is when the Holy Spirit overwhelms or takes control of our lives, because we have “buried” our own wills to allow His Spirit to rule within us. This is the literal baptism that the figurative water baptism symbolizes. There are four examples in the book of Acts in which this happened in a dramatic and visible way to a group of people in connection with water baptism. In most cases, however, it is invisible to man, as Jesus described it to Nicodemas: “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” (Jhn. 3:8)

Notice that although it is invisible to man, like the wind, it leaves evidence of its presence: “thou hearest the sound thereof”.

Holy Spirit baptism is sometimes referred to as an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In Acts 10:45, Peter witnessed “that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” This same event is called in various passages: “Received the Holy Spirit” (Act. 10:47); “The Holy Ghost fell on all them” (Act. 10:44); “And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?” (Act. 11:15-17)

Notice that these are all referring to the same event. They “received the Holy Spirit”, when it was “poured out” or “fell on them.” And Peter later referred to this same event as being “baptized with the Holy Ghost”, and the “gift” of the Holy Ghost. This is also called the new birth or being “born of the Spirit” (John 3:6,8).

Only God can baptize with the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit is the spirit of God: “He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire.” (Mat. 3:11b) Yet, obviously, not everyone on this earth is baptized with the Holy Spirit. Although the work of conversion cannot be by the will of man, neither can it be only by the Holy Spirit, or all would be converted. Rather, it is only accomplished by the cooperation of the will of man with the Holy Spirit.

Let’s look at what is involved in conversion and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

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Language

English

Number of Pages

29

Author

Glenn Wenger

Publisher

Weaverland Mennonite Publications

Topics

Baptism