Biblical Water Baptism (Infant Baptism and Baptism for the Dead), Episode VIII

Ex 30:17-21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 18 “You shall also make a laver of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it, 19 for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it. 20 When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the Lord, they shall wash with water, lest they die. ...

Nu 19:2-21 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 2 “This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord has commanded, saying: ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which a yoke has never come. ... 5 Then the heifer shall be burned in his sight: ... 8 And the one who burns it shall wash his clothes in water, ... 9 Then a man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and store them outside the camp in a clean place; and they shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for the water of purification; it is for purifying from sin. ... 17 ‘And for an unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for purification from sin, and running water shall be put on them in a vessel. 18 A clean person shall take hyssop and dip it in the water, sprinkle it on the tent, on all the vessels, on the persons who were there, ... 19 The clean person shall sprinkle the unclean on the third day and on the seventh day; and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, wash his clothes, and bathe in water; and at evening he shall be clean.20 ‘But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from among the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. The water of purification has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean. ...

Ezra 9:2 For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass.”

Isa 6:13 But yet a tenth will be in it, And will return and be for consuming, As a terebinth tree or as an oak, Whose stump remains when it is cut down. So the holy seed shall be its stump.”

Mk 16:16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Lk 2:21 And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Ac 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Ac 10:24 And the following day they entered Caesarea. Now Cornelius was waiting for them, and had called together his relatives and close friends. ... 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. ... 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

Ac 16:15 And when she and her household were baptized, ...

Ac 16:31-34 So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. 33 And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34 Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household.

Ac 18:8 Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

Ro 6:4-5 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,

1 Cor 1:16 Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas.

1 Cor 7:14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband; otherwise your children would be unclean, but now they are holy.

1 Cor 10:1-2 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

1 Cor 15:29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?

Col 2:11-12 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins[c] of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

1 Pt 3:20-21who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. 21 There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

Authoritative translations of the Greek New Testament: G-Griesbach, 1805; L-Lachman, 1842-1850; T-Tischendorf, 8th Ed. 1865-1872; Tr- Tregelles 1857-1872; A-Alford vol I. 1868, Vil II. 1865, Vol IV. 1862, 1870; W-Wordsworth 1870.

The questions and answers before you represent the concluding elements of our Q&A. Here we explore major questions on the subject of water baptism. The matter of infant baptism has been with the Lord's church from the very beginning - that question is front and center in this writing. Also, there is that obscure, but troubling, question of baptism for the dead; we could not pass from this study without an honest look at that mysterious matter. Finally, in this article, we will look at the types and shadows found in the Old Testament for water baptism.

Having, as we have, introduced our topics for this writing let us go into them at this time.

Question 66: What position does the Bible take on the question of Infant Water Baptism? ∼ Answer: The question of Infant Water Baptism has been with the Church almost from the beginning and touches many other doctrines such as: original sin, the fallen nature, and the view of the sacraments; not the least of which is the question of the origin of the soul. However, the best we can say is that there is much in Scripture to support the practice of Infant Water Baptism and nothing that would convincingly refute it. See Questions 67 and 68.

Question 67: Why do some oppose Infant Water Baptism? ∼ Answer: Some oppose Infant Water Baptism in favor of believers baptism from an understanding that personal belief and repentance are prerequisites to Water Baptism (Mark 16:16; Acts 2: 38).

Question 68: Why do some practice Infant Water Baptism? ∼ Answer: Some Christian fellowships practice Infant Water Baptism because of their belief in Covenant Theology. Covenant Theology views Water Baptism as Christian circumcision (see Questions 60 and 61). Under the Old Covenant infants were circumcised at eight days old (Luke 2:21). Paul parallels Old Testament circumcision with New Testament Water Baptism (Colossians 2:11-12). Also, the belief in the doctrine of original sin places an infant’s salvation in question without Water Baptism. There is also an understanding that apostolic example is provided for Infant Water Baptism in the fact that whole households were Water Baptized in the book of Acts (Acts 10:24, 44, 48; 16:15; 16:31-34; 18:8; see also First Corinthians 1:16); it is assumed that the households included small children and infants. Moreover, the words of Paul in First Corinthians 7:14, that the children of believers are holy gives strong indication that the children of believers are “holy seed” (Ezra 9:2; Isaiah 6:13) and are therefore born into covenant prerogatives.

Baptism For The Dead

Question 69: What is meant by the reference concerning those who were “baptized for the dead” found in First Corinthians 15: 29? ∼ Answer: To support his argument for the resurrection, the apostle Paul mentions those who practiced Water Baptism in behalf of dead persons. His argument was simple: If the dead do not resurrect, why were some being Water Baptized for them? This practice shows the association the apostolic Church understood between Water Baptism and the promise of a resurrection (see Romans 6:4-5; Question 9 and Question 48, #5). Note: The Greek of this passage makes it clear that Water Baptism was practiced in behalf of dead persons; e.g. the text from which the King James version is translated reads, “huper ton nekron” - for the sake of the dead ones. GLTTrAW reads, “hyper auton” - for the sake of them. Both readings are the genitive plural form; therefore, cannot be referencing Christ as the “dead party” for which the believers were being baptized. The “dead ones” seem to be referencing those who died in faith before being Water Baptized.

Old Testament Types and Shadows of Water Baptism

Question 70: What are some of the Old Testament types and shadows of New Testament Water Baptism? ∼ Answer: The Old Testament supplies many types and shadows of New Testament Water Baptism. Listed here are a few of the most important ones:

1. The flood in the days of Noah (First Peter 3:20-21; see Questions 50 through 53).
2. The passing through the Red Sea at the time of the Exodus (First Corinthians 10:1-2).
3. The Laver of water (Sea) in the Tabernacle of Moses (Exodus 30:17-21).
4. The Water of Separation (Numbers 19:2-21, give special attention to verse 9; also see Questions 51 and 52).
5. Circumcision (Colossians 2:11-12; also see Question 9; Question 48, #5; Question 60 and Question 61).

Dear friend, we have now come to the end of our Q&A on Biblical Water Baptism.There may have been much more that could have been addressed, but we trust these seventy questions and answers have give an in-depth review of the Bibles teaching on the subject that has been before us for eight articles. It is the prayer of this writer that the God of all truth illumines all in us that is darkness.

The End

Apostolically Speaking

☩ Jerry Hayes