Why do some churches "sprinkle" infants when Jesus commanded "baptize disciples" - submerge in water?

Question

The meaning of the word "baptize." It comes from a Greek word which means “to submerge in water." Therefore, baptism by sprinkling or by pouring is an oxymoron, something that self-contradictory. Baptism by sprinkling would mean "submerging someone in water by sprinkling water on them." Baptism, by its inherent definition, must be an act of immersion in water.

Baptism illustrates a believer’s identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4 NIV). The action of being immersed in the water pictures being buried with Christ. The action of coming out of the water pictures Christ’s resurrection. As a result, baptism by immersion is the only method of baptism which illustrates being buried

Father K
Great Scriptural answer.. Thanks very much. It gives me a lot of insight. I have been searching for answers for a long time. You are giving them to me.

Answer 1

Ezek. 36:25 - Ezekiel prophesies that God "will 'sprinkle' clean water on you and you shall be clean." The word for "sprinkle" is "rhaino" which means what it says, sprinkle (not immersion). (“Kai rhaino eph hymas hydor katharon.”)

2 Kings 5:14 - Namaan went down and dipped himself in the Jordan. The Greek word for "dipped" is "baptizo." Here, baptizo means immersion. But many Protestant churches argue that "baptizo" and related tenses of the Greek word always mean immersion, and therefore the Catholic baptisms of pouring or sprinkling water over the head are invalid. The Scriptures disprove their claim.

Num. 19:18 – here, the verbs for dipping (“baptisantes”) and sprinkled (“bapsei”) refers to affusion (pouring) and sprinkling (aspersion), not immersion.

Matt. 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16 -John the Baptist prophesied that Jesus will baptize ("baptisei") with the Holy Spirit and fire. In this case, "baptisei" refers to a "pouring" out over the head. This is confirmed by Matt. 3:16 where the Holy Spirit descends upon Jesus' head like a dove and Acts 2:3-4 where the Holy Spirit descended upon Mary and the apostles' heads in the form of tongues of fire. In each case, in fulfilling John the Baptist's prophecy, the Lord baptized ("baptizo") in the form of pouring out His Spirit upon the head, not immersing the person.

Matt. 20:22-23; Mark 10:38-39; Luke 12:50 - Jesus also talks about His baptism (from "baptizo") of blood, which was shed and sprinkled in His passion. But this baptism does not (and cannot) mean immersion.

Mark 7:3 - the Pharisees do not eat unless they wash ("baptizo" ) their hands. This demonstrates that "baptizo" does not always mean immersion. It can mean pouring water over something (in this case, over their hands).

Mark 7:4 - we see that the Jews washed ("bapto" from baptizo) cups, pitchers and vessels, but this does not mean that they actually immersed these items. Also, some manuscripts say the Jews also washed (bapto) couches, yet they did not immerse the couches, they only sprinkled them.

Luke 11:38 - Jesus had not washed ("ebaptisthe") His hands before dinner. Here, the derivative of "baptizo" just means washing up, not immersing.

Acts 2:41 - at Peter's first sermon, 3,000 were baptized. There is archeological proof that immersion would have been impossible in this area. Instead, these 3,000 people had to be sprinkled in water baptism.

Acts 8:38 - because the verse says they "went down into the water," many Protestants say this is proof that baptism must be done by immersion. But the verb to describe Phillip and the eunuch going down into the water is the same verb ("katabaino") used in Acts 8:26 to describe the angel's instruction to Phillip to stop his chariot and go down to Gaza. The word has nothing to do with immersing oneself in water.

Acts 8:39 - because the verse says "they came up out of the water," many Protestants also use this verse to prove that baptism must be done by immersion. However, the Greek word for "coming up out of the water" is "anebesan" which is plural. The verse is describing that both Phillip and the eunuch ascended out of the water, but does not prove that they were both immersed in the water. In fact, Phillip could not have baptized the eunuch if Phillip was also immersed. Finally, even if this was a baptism by immersion, the verse does not say that baptism by immersion is the only way to baptize.

Acts 9:18; 22:16 - Paul is baptized while standing up in the house of Judas. There is no hot tub or swimming pool for immersion. This demonstrates that Paul was sprinkled.

Acts 10:47-48 - Peter baptized in the house of Cornelius, even though hot tubs and swimming pools were not part of homes. Those in the house had to be sprinkled.

Acts 16:33 - the baptism of the jailer and his household appears to be in the house, so immersion is not possible.

Acts 2:17,18,33 - the pouring of water is like the "pouring" out of the Holy Spirit. Pouring is also called "infusion" (of grace).

1 Cor. 10:2 - Paul says that the Israelites were baptized ("baptizo") in the cloud and in the sea. But they could not have been immersed because Exodus 14:22 and 15:9 say that they went dry shod. Thus, "baptizo" does not mean immersed in these verses.

Eph. 4:5 - there is only one baptism, just as there is only one Lord and one faith. Once a person is validly baptized by water and the Spirit in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with the intention of the Church (whether by pouring or immersion), there is no longer a need to rebaptize the person.

Titus 3:6 – the “washing of regeneration” (baptism) is “poured out” upon us. This “pouring out” generally refers to the pouring of baptismal waters over the head of the newly baptized.

Heb. 6:2 – on the doctrine of baptisms (the word used is “baptismos”) which generally referred to pouring and not immersion.

Heb. 10:22 – the author writes, “with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience.” This “sprinkling” of baptism refers to aspersion, not immersion. The text also parallels 1 Peter 3:21, which expressly mentions baptism and its ability to, like Heb. 10:22, purify the conscience (the interior disposition of a person).

Isaiah 44:3 - the Lord "pours" water on the thirsty land and "pours" His Spirit upon our descendants. The Lord is “pouring,” not “immersing.”

2 Thess. 2:15 - hold fast to the tradition of the Church, whether oral or written. Since the time of Christ, baptisms have been done by pouring or sprinkling.

Answer 2

It is unintentionally funny how roman catholic (and some other) Christian churches make a big deal about the "commitment" of a young uninformed soul, just born, and probably totally sleeping through it, or crying in loud protest!

It is ALSO unintentionally funny how roman catholic (and some other) Christian film-makers show Jesus, and others, wading out into waist-hith (even chest-high) water, only to be sprinkled on their head.

In the Bible, adults were baptized out in the water, not sprinkled as babies. What kind of credit can God give oblivious crying infants for being forced to be sprinkled by their birth parents' church?

What is that child is orphaned and raised by atheists? Does a sprinkle of "holy water" when sleeping as a baby cange the heart? God's word says He judges the heart!!!

Does a criminal go to heaven because he was "forced" to have water "sprinkled" on it's head, when it could not even understand language yet... let alone the sacraficial obedience of being baptized as God commanded.

I don't think their parents, or their church even gets it! Baptism is supposed to MEAN something!!!

Our church christens babies, but we call it "baby dedication", a parent's commitment (not a sleeping baby's baptism). Full emursion baptism comes when we are old enough to obey God's will with understanding and true commitment!

Sprinkling is OK...just don't think you don't need a real Christian baptism because you we christened when ou were so young you were totally unaware of it.

Answer 3

Baptism is to be done by full immersion in water; no sprinkling, no pouring. The intellectual interpretations given by Father K and others of his faith are simply those strong efforts to twist and justify the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church about baptisms.

Modern revelation dictates, and confirms, that baptism of infants is an abomination before the Lord and is not to be done until the child reaches the age of accountability. Within a month after a child's birth, the LDS Church's elders--specifically the child's father--will bless the infant and officially give him or her a name for the Church's records. No water touches the infant's body.

I believe strongly that, although the rites of baptism of other churches are executed in faith, they are perversions of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, just as the religious beliefs of our American Indians had been perverted from the Gospel since the days that Laman and Lemuel rebelled against their family.

It is not my intent to insult Father K and his religious beliefs, but I do point out that interpretations of the scriptures can often be twisted to support certain beliefs. That is one of the main accusations many churches say about the LDS Church. It goes both ways.

Answer 4

Kait,

Father K's answer hit the nail on the head.

The Grace conveyed in Baptism "is not simple water only, but it is the water comprehended in God's command and connected with Gods word." Luther's Small Catechism.

It may be interesting to note that in Fr. Martin's Catechism ""Baptize" means to apply water by washing, pouring, sprinkling, or immersing."

Another question from the Catechism asks "Why is Baptism not simple water only?
Baptism is not simple water only-
A. Because in Baptism water is used by a special command of God;

B. Because the water is applied in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and is thus connected with God's word."

God's Blessings,

Mark

Answer 5

Good question! I have never understood this practice either. The Catholics do this. And a couple others do also. The scriptures are very clear about baptism and its reason. My church teaches that children must be "Of the age of accountability" to be baptized. So we do not do it before age 8. I guess I have always wondered why also that the Catholics believe that babies will go to hell if they are not sprinkled/baptized before death. I believe that babies are innocent and saved through Jesus Christ. There are plenty of Biblical scriptures to reference. But my favorite that is the most straight forward is in the Book of Mormon. Moroni chapter 8. It is very powerful.

Answer 6

Simple
Water Baptism is a symbol of dieing, buried and rising out of the grave.
No one gets sprinkled with dirt for a grave.
YOU MUST BE COVERED COMPLETELY [caps for effect only]
[by the way, when God give you the Holy Ghost you are total immersed. Like under a waterfall and your completely under it.]

Answer 7

Ignorance. No where in the bible says u should baptize a baby. They do it cuz they think it gets rid of the sins we all humans are born with. But ur sins can only be forgiven when that decition comes from u not when ur parents sprinkle some water when all u know is eat and poop.

Answer 8

Do babies "believe?" no- they don't- they should not be baptized! A person needs to KNOW the meaning of salvation before they are baptized, this is biblical! That is why baptizing babies is of false doctrine. A baby does not know what sin is. They have no comprehension of why they need Jesus.
Until one is at the appropriate age to be held accountable, they should not be baptized.
Matthew 3:6
Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
(one must confess to God)
Matthew 3:11
"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
(baptism in water is our outward expression of our faith in God)

Answer 9

Ahhh... I was baptized with the sprinkled water. Lutheran.


Maybe that's why I became an atheist. Because I wasn't submerged. We'll never know, eh?

Answer 10

Hmmm, different interpretations entail different practices...

come to think of it, aint it a great idea if all churches had baptismal pools that can be used as public baths? just a thought...