Baptism: Immersion Only?

What baptizo means

Baptizo often means immersion: Naaman dipped himself seven times in the Jordan (2 Kings 5:14, Septuagint). But it also means washing: a Pharisee was surprised Jesus did not first wash before dinner (Luke 11:38), and the Pharisees washed themselves after the market (Mark 7:3-4). Figuratively, Jesus spoke of the "baptism" of his suffering (Luke 12:50). And being "baptized with the Holy Spirit" (Acts 1:4-5) is described three times as the Spirit being poured out (Acts 2:17, 18, 33), and as falling on them (Acts 11:15-17). So baptizo includes pouring.

Christian baptism

In Christian use the word took a specialized meaning, as "trinity" (triad), once any group of three, came to mean the three divine persons. Baptizo already had religious meanings, the baptism of Gentile converts to Judaism and John's baptism of repentance, carrying associations of initiation and conversion. Its Christian sense must be learned from Christian practice, not secular usage.

Water and Spirit

The New Testament links water baptism with Spirit baptism and rebirth (see John 3:5; Acts 2:38; 19:2-3; 22:16; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:11-12; Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 3:21). At Pentecost Peter joined baptism and the gift of the Spirit (Acts 2:38). The first Gentiles received the Spirit before water baptism (Acts 10:44), to show God's acceptance of them, but Peter then asked who could withhold the water (Acts 10:47). Paul baptized disciples who lacked the Spirit, and they received it (Acts 19:1-6). Since the Spirit is "poured," pouring fittingly signifies this, while immersion best signifies death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4; see CCC 1239), and is usual in the Eastern rites. All three modes signify cleansing.

Practical difficulties

Three thousand were baptized at Pentecost (Acts 2:41), but archaeology shows Jerusalem lacked water to immerse so many, and its people would not have let their water supply be polluted. Today the bedridden, quadriplegics, those with tracheotomies, iron lungs or recent surgery, desert nomads, Eskimos, and Christians baptized secretly under hostile regimes may be unable to be immersed. God would not require a form impossible for some.

The early Church

The Didache (about A.D. 70) says to baptize in living water, or other water, cold or warm, and if neither is available, to pour water three times on the head in the name of the Trinity. Hippolytus (215) says to use whatever water is available. Pope Cornelius (251) records Novatian baptized by pouring on his sickbed. Cyprian (255) says the sick should not be troubled at being poured upon or sprinkled. Early art in catacombs and mosaics shows water poured over people standing in rivers, and a second-century baptistery in Nazareth was too small for immersion.