The Truth About Water Baptism
Biblical and Historical Proof
By Eddie Jones

You have a right to know the truth about water baptism. What does the Bible say? What does history say? Do not take mere theories and ideas of men; learn the truth about this important subject. The following information is based on Biblical and historical proof that cannot be denied.

IS WATER BAPTISM ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION?

Jesus commanded, “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is BAPTIZED shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned.” Mark 16:15,16. Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Except a man be born of WATER and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.” John 3:5.

Paul said, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, (How?) by the WASHING of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” Titus 3:5.

“In the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is eight souls were saved by WATER. The like figure whereunto even BAPTISM DOTH ALSO NOW SAVE US.” I Peter 3:20,21. On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached, “Repent, and be BAPTIZED everyone of you in the Name of Jesus Christ FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS .. Acts 2:38. To the Gentiles Peter said, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized …? And he COMMANDED THEM TO BE BAPTIZED…” Acts 10:47, 48.

Water baptism is necessary for the remission of sins, and is also an act of obedience to the command of Christ. Therefore, it is definitely essential to salvation.

WHAT IS THE CORRECT MODE FOR WATER BAPTISM?

The word baptize is derived from the Greek word “baptize” which means to dip, immerse, plunge or sink. Greek-English Lexicon. A careful study of the New Testament Church will prove that immersion was the original mode used for water baptism.

Paul said, “We are BURIED with Him by baptism.” Rom. 6:4. When Jesus was captized by John in Jordan River, He came straightway up out of the water. Mark 1:9,10. When Philip baptized the eunuch, both went down into the water and then came up out of it. Acts 8:36-39.

World Book Encyclopedia, 1984 Edition, Vol. B, p. 71,72 The “Early Christians” practiced immersion (submerging a person in water) as a method of baptism.
Encyclopedia International, 1982 Edition, Vol.2, p.378 The original mode of baptism was by immersion of the entire body in water, but a wide accepted method since the 2nd century has been baptism by effusion (pouring water on the head employed by the Roman Catholic Church).

New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1977 Edition, Vol. 2 p. 56 It is evident that Baptism in the early Church was by immersion. Vol. 2, p. 65  The Didache (Christian writings around the second and third centuries) and Cyprian (Bishop of Carthage) are generally cited as the earliest evidence for the allowance of effusion instead at immersion. Baptism by sprinkling is admitted by the present discipline of the church (Roman Catholic).
Nowhere will you find that the New Testament Church baptized by sprinkling or pouring. They baptized by immersion of the entire body in water.

WHAT IS THE CORRECT FORMULA FOR WATER BAPTISM?

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matt. 28:19. Confusion has been left in the minds of people, because of the misinterpretation of this Scripture by some who have used the words Father, Son and Holy Ghost as a formula for water baptism and a basis for the Trinity doctrine. Matthew 28:19 was neither intended to be used as a formula, nor was it meant,to support the Trinity doctrine. It is the commission to the eleven apostles and must be fulfilled. Notice that Jesus said, “. .. baptizing them in the NAME (singular).” Father, Son and Holy Ghost are only titles or offices of the one true and living God  This is not His Name! To repeat the titles and refuse to state the Name is failure to fulfill the commission of Christ. Therefore, to obey the commission, the NAME must be used. What is the NAMEof the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost?

Name of Father  Jesus said, “I am come in my Father’s Name.” John 5:43.
Name of Son  “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His Name JESUS.” Matt. 1:21. (Also see Luke 1:31.)
Name of Holy Ghost  Jesus said, “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in MY NAME, He shall teach you all things.” John 14:26.

Emphatically the NAME IS JESUS! Paul declared the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. Eph. 3:14,15.

Then Jesus opened the understanding of the disciples tothe Scriptures, and said, “… That repentance and REMISSION OF SINS should be preached IN HIS NAME among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:45,47.

In obedience to Christ, Peter stood with the other apostles, in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, and fulfilled the commission when he said, “Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38. To question the words of Peter is to doubt the divine wisdom of God, for Jesus gave to Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. Matt. 16:13-19. Certainly the apostles were authorities on the correct formula for water baptism. (Also see Eph. 2:20.)

When Philip preached Christ in Samaria, they that believed were baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Acts 8:16.

To the Gentiles at the house of Cornelius in Caesarea, Peter said, “Can any man forbid water that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the Name of the Lord.” (R.V., Weymouth, Vulgate “Name of Jesus Christ.”) Acts 10:47-48.

According to Paul’s testimony, he was baptized, washing away his sins, calling on the Name of the Lord. (R.V.  “His Name.”) Acts 22:16.

The believers in the church at Rome were baptized into Jesus Christ. Paul said, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism …” Rom. 6:3, 4.

To the church at Corinth Paul asked the question, “Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” I Cor. 1:12-15. This indicated that Jesus was crucified and they were baptized in His Name.

The believers in the churches of Galatia were baptized into Christ. Paul said, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.” Gal. 3:27.

Certain disciples at Ephesus were rebaptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus, when they heard the preaching of the apostle Paul. Acts 19:4-5.

The believers in the church of Colosse were buried with Christ in baptism. Paul said, “Ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with Him in baptism … ” Cal. 2:11, 12.

History also proves that water baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ was universally practiced by the New Testament Church for many years after Christ, and was changed by the Roman Catholic Church with the development of the Trinity.

Dictionary of the Bible by James Hastings, Thirteenth Edition, Vol. 1, p. 241 -The original form of words was into the Name of Jesus Christ” or “the Lord Jesus.” Baptism into the Trinity was a later development. (Also see Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible, Revised Edition. Vol. 1, p. 88.)

Canney Encyclopedia, p. 53  The early church always baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus until the development of the Trinity, afterward they were baptized in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1977 Edition, Vol. 13, p. 1012 the first use of the Latin ward “trinitas” (trinity) with reference to God is found in Tertullian’s writings (about 213 A.D.). He was the first to use the term “persons” (plural) in a Trinitarian context. (Also see Encyclopedia Americana, 1983 Edition, Vol. 26, p. 527.)

Encyclopedia Americana, 1957 Edition, Vol. 27, p.69 The word “Trinity” is not in Scripture. The term persons (plural) is not applied in Scripture to the Trinity.

World Book Encyclopedia, 1984 Edition, Vol. T, p. 363 Belief in Father, Son and Holy Ghost was first defined by the earliest general council of churches. This was the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. (For Nicene Creed see Encyclopedia Americana, 1983 Edition, Vol. 20, p. 310.)

Brittanica Encyclopedia, Eleventh Edition, Vol. 3, p.365, 366  The triune and trinity formula was not used from the beginning, and up until the third century, baptism in the Name of Christ only was wide-spread … (Baptismal formula changed by the Roman Catholic Church). Now the formula of Rome is “I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.’

New International Encyclopedia, Vol. 22, p. 476  The Trinity doctrine. The Catholic Faith is this, We worship one in trinity, but there is one person of the Father, another of the Son and another of the Holy Ghost. They Glory equal  the Majesty coeternal. The doctrine is not found in its fully developed form in the Scriptures. Modern theology does not seek to find it in the Old Testament. At the time of the Reformation the Protestant Church took over the doctrine of the Trinity without serious examination.

Encyclopedia International, 1982 Edition, Vol. 18, p. 226  The doctrine of the Trinity did not form part of the apostles’ preaching, as this is reported in the New Testament.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p.396No record of the Trinitarian formula can be discovered in the Acts or the Epistles of the Apostles.

Is this not sufficient proof? Nowhere, absolutely nowhere, will you find that the New Testament Church baptized using the words Father, Son and Holy Ghost. They baptized in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Honest hearts, receive the truth! It is of utmost importance that water baptism be applied in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is NONE OTHER NAME under Heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For IN HIM DWELLETH ALL the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are … BURIED WITH HIM IN BAPTISM, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead” Col. 2:8-12. Ye are WASHED, ye are sanctified, ye are justified IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, and by the Spirit of our God. I Cor. 6:11. “Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, DO ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS” Cal. 3:17. There Is only ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, AND ONE BAPTISM. Eph. 4:5.
“Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32.

This pamphlet The Truth about Water Baptism written by Eddie Jones is published by Know the Truth Literature.