Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

This isn't a theology question just an observation.

In scripture we have the reference when John Baptized Jesus. We now Baptize several different ways. This isn't a question about baptizing babies or if you must be of accountable age, it is an observation on how.

We see Baptisms in rivers, lakes, oceans, pools, spas and yes a sprinkle of water.

Have you ever given thought on how the Apostles Baptized converts when they were in prison? Personally I have no hangup on how other than I believe it must be a believer meaning they are at an age of understanding and have made a personal choice to follow Jesus. The method isn't a big thing to me as I believe baptism is a public display of our new found faith and represents a re-birth. 2000 years ago when you were baptized everyone knew you were now a follower of Jesus and along with that was the possibility of persecution. This made for no fakers, you were in fact a true follower.

But back to the question ... how did the Apostles do Baptisms in prison? I don't thank the prison warden provided an outing to the river or had a big pool provided. Personally I'm OK with the thought that just maybe they spat on the fingers or spilled some water on their fingers and slapped the new convert across the forehead ....

I come from a vantage point of believing all scripture is true but not all truth may be written in the Good Book. That is why it is important to draw near to God and know His heart in all matters.

Thoughts?

Joe3 Loc: The Villages, Fl

What is the scripture reference for the baptism in prison?

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

There is none ...

There is the Catholic belief of the fountain and Peter but I don't actually see a scripture account of baptism.

There is jailer who takes Paul and Silas to his home and the family is saved and baptized.

I see no reference on possible procedures when John was in prison.

If I'm missing something tell me ;)

bobishkan Loc: Fort Myers Sunny Florida

I am a chaplain in a Florida prison. We have a large fiberglass baptismal where we baptize inmates quite often. It even has hot water so I don't get too cold! I'm sure Paul, with his influence, had a large wooden baptismal built so he could do baptismal services. Just kidding! Bob

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Thanks for the morning humor :)

bobishkan Loc: Fort Myers Sunny Florida

As I have been pondering over your question, I remember reading somewhere that Paul was a Presbyterian so he would have sprinkled and not immerse as the Baptist do. That would have made it much easier to just find a little water and do the sprinkle thing. Blessings: Bob All kidding aside, before I became chaplain at my prison, they went for years not having any baptisms of any kind of the new believers because there was no one that understood the command to be baptized. Blessings: Bob

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

Actually I heard Paul was a Charismatic and you had to have two Baptisms. One for the initial public acknowledgement and one for the 'filling' when one would arise from the water speaking in tongues ... he he

Oh Lord, forgive me for my pushing the envelope humor :)

bobishkan Loc: Fort Myers Sunny Florida

Very Good and very funny Bob

KTJohnson Loc: Northern Michigan

The short answer to your question is, if they didn't have enough water, they probably didn't baptize at that time.

Baptism is immersion, the word translated "baptism" all through the N.T is from the Greek word [baptizo] which means "to make whelmed" (i.e. fully wet), "to dip", or "to immerse". Is there any Scriptural evidence to back this up? Yes.

Notice Mt. 3:16 "And Jesus , when He was baptized went up straightway out of the water..." He couldn't have come up out of the water unless He was first ... under it.

John 3:23 "And John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there: and they came and were baptized." He picked a place where there was "much water" so they could be immersed in it.

Acts 8:38 "... and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him." Again, they "went down into the water". There was no sprinkling or pouring of water there.

It is interesting that the Christian church knew no form of baptism but "immersion" until the Middle Ages, when the practice of "sprinkling" or "pouring" was introduced by the Roman Catholic church ... which itself had previously always baptized by immersion.

As instituted by Christ, baptism became an outward act of identification with Him through faith, a visible, public testimony that one belonged to Him. The initial act of obedience to Christ after salvation is to submit to baptism as a testimony to union with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. Immersion is the only mode that symbolizes burial and resurrection.

We must understand, baptism has no part in bringing about salvation ... but it should follow soon after salvation as an act of obedience to Christ. A person is saved by God's grace alone ... working through their faith as a gift of God.

In Romans 6:3-5 Paul is simply using the physical analogy of water baptism to teach the spiritual reality of the believer's union with Christ. Water baptism is the outward identification of an inward reality ... faith in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection. Water baptism is only a public symbol of faith in God. The tragedy is that many mistake the symbol of water baptism as the means of salvation ... rather than the demonstration of it. Without salvation first ... baptism will only get you wet.

bobishkan Loc: Fort Myers Sunny Florida

Some thoughts on baptism: I am 73 years old. I was brought up in the Armenian Orthodox church and baptized as an infant by my parents. In my college days, I became a Baptist and got baptized as a believer by immersion. For some fifty years, I believed everything you just said and kind of still do. I thought the denominations that baptized infants were nuts because I did not see any clear evidences of it in scripture. After going to a Presbyterian church and reading much of their literature, I came to the conclusion that they are not nuts and have basis for their beliefs in infant baptism. It has much to do with convent theology and is much to complicated for me to get into here. Just know that there are some really fine theologians than can make a real good case for the infant baptism. I am excluding the RC church because they think they are forgiving original sin and that of course is nuts! I have been to conferences where guys like McArthur and Sproul (He just died) debated the issue for hours, both throwing verses at each other and no one coming to a clear win or loss. Well I was baptized as an infant. I was baptized as an adult. I have been to Israel seven times and once was baptized in the Jordan. I think I have it covered! I even have a tee shirt that I bought from some Jews in Israel that says, "I WAS BAPTISED IN THE JORDAN!" By the way, most of the Jordan River is one foot deep! Blessings: Bob

KTJohnson Loc: Northern Michigan

Thank you for your testimony. The important point of your testimony is that you are a believer.

I was brought up attending (sporadically) a Presbyterian church with my parents. My brother was baptized as an infant but somehow I missed out on it. When I was a teenager I decided I wanted to get baptized for some reason I can't remember now. In order to do that I had to memorize the Apostles Creed, which seemed ridiculous to me, since I knew those other babies that were getting baptized hadn't memorized it. But I did memorize it and was baptized. My hair got slightly wet.

In my late twenties, my girlfriend (now my wife) invited me to her church which happened to be Southern Baptist. There, they talked about being "lost', getting "saved", being "born again", and "sin", and all kinds of other stuff that was foreign to me. I had never heard those terms in our Presbyterian church. All those years I thought I had been a Christian but I didn't really have a clue about the reality of salvation. Eventually I understood things, I put my trust in Jesus Christ (alone) and I became a true believer. I went on to be baptized again, this time by immersion, teach in Sunday School, became a Deacon in several different churches and then a Pastor.

Now, I'm mostly retired from everything and I get to take a lot of pictures and try to point folks in the right direction.

bobishkan Loc: Fort Myers Sunny Florida

And thank you pastor for your testimony. I am ordained in the Conservative Baptist Assn of America which is the northern version of the SBC. I am presently a chaplain in a Florida prison. I am a deacon in a PCA very conservative branch of the Presbyterian church in which we use the words you listed every week. Nice knowing we have some real true believers on this forum. Blessings, Bob

Beercat Loc: Central Coast of California

"it should follow soon after salvation as an act of obedience to Christ"

So Christ was 'saved' how many years before John dunked Him?

Fact is scripture can give us an example here and there but there isn't anything that one can say is an absolute 'rule' about baptism, there is no 'commandment' outlining the procedure. As I said, Baptism is simply a display of one's new found belief in Christ, it is a public display of such and frankly I don't think it matters how it is accomplished so long as it is to a believer who has made a freewill choice. Again this is my own take ....

As far as salvation and baptism not being connected the convict on the cross with Jesus is a great example. Those that are lead to Christ on their death bed is another.

CSand Loc: Fayetteville, Georgia

Hello my brothers. Baptism is beautiful and so meaningful and we certainly should if possible. Believe it is a command. Think when we see Him face to face all the how, when and why will take back seat. But it interesting and enjoyable to read the discussion and insight of godly men done in such a peaceful and kind way. Blessings to you all. Sandy

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Baptism, regardless of theology is immersion. You do not need immersion underwater or sprinkled or anything for that matter. The immersion is in faith. You can take many 'baptism' baths in front of many folks all your life and still not be baptized.

Too many time under the pretext public display of belief we create rituals thinking they are important. You do not need any of it.

I remember folks whispering about a woman that she was not a 'born again christian' because she did not take the plunge yet she was the pillar of that church. When she died the church died with her.

'Godly men'??? Wow!