A good place to start is with the difference in the wording of this doctrine in Hebrews 6:2. We are looking at 3 different translations, King James, English Standard, and the New International Versions. Each one seems to be saying something a little different, but all have one thing in common, which is water.
KJV “doctrine of baptisms”
ESV “instruction about washings”
NIV “instruction about cleansing rites”
The greek word that the translators are translating into English is “Baptismos”. In classic Greek literature and in religious literature of the first century and several centuries there after, this word was almost universally translated as “immerse or immersion”. (Context would be the determining factor, but “immerse or immersion” is the correct English word.) This was primarily talking about being immersed in water. But in some classical Greek literature, it also talks about being immersed in oil.
So why did the translators of the KJV transliterate the word into English instead of what the word really meant? Transliterate simply means using the sound of the letters of one language to spell it out in the new language. Hence the greek “baptismos” to the English word baptism. I don’t have an answer for that question. However, all three of these translations are speaking to what a person should do after salvation. Which is understanding the rite of being baptized.
The book of Hebrews was originally written to the Jewish people that accepted their Messiah, as fulfillment of the Torah, which we call the Old Testament. So it seems the ESV and the NIV we’re taking that into consideration. “Instruction about washings” or “instructions about cleansing rites”, would’ve been something that Jewish people would’ve understood.
However, the meaning of Christian baptism is described for us in the book of Romans.
Romans 6:3-11
3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up 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 planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7. For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 8. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9. Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Baptism is being completely immersed in water, which shows we have died, and coming up out of the water is showing we are alive to a new life. We are leaving our old life and living a new life for Jesus. He was buried and rose from the dead. So we are showing ourselves to be buried and being raised form the dead, just like He did. After that we live our lives to God and Him alone. This is what these verses in Romans 6:3-11 are describing. This is true Christian baptism.
The next few verses that I’ve added here are talking about salvation. When we are saved, we are baptized into the body of Christ.
Galatians 33:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
! Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
Now the Greek word “Baptismos” is in the plural, and of course, plural means more than one.There is another baptism we should mention that is included within the “doctrines of baptisms”. The baptism of the Holy Spirit. We find this in the book of Acts.
Acts 2:1-4
- And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
The words “baptism in the Holy Spirit” are not found here, but they are found with John the Baptist and by Jesus Himself.
John the Baptist said;
Mathew 3:11
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Mark 1:8
8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Luke 3:16
16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:
John 1:33
33 And I knew Him not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
And Jesus said;
Luke 24:49
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Acts 1:4-5;8
4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of Me.
5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Jesus is speaking to His disciples. Of course, we know that all of them were saved, because Jesus said in John 20:22 that He breathed on them to receive the Holy Spirit.
John 20:22
And when He had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:.
With this statement we can be assured that everyone in the upper room were already saved. So the Holy Spirit falling on them was indeed the baptism in the Holy Spirit.
We also have other instances in the book of acts.
Actes 8:15-17
15.Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:
16. (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
17.Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.
Verse 16 shows that they were Christians, that they had been saved. But the apostles came to lay hands on them that they might be baptized in the Holy Spirit. This shows the two separate baptisms, water and the Holy Spirit. Being baptized into the body of Christ with water, when we are saved. Then being baptized in the Holy Spirit for the power to live the Christian life.
We have shown that the word baptisms translated from the Greek really means immersion. And both of these experiences, are just that. Being brought into the body of Christ by being immersed in water baptism. And the Holy Spirit baptizing us so that we might live a Christian life with power.
There’s a lot more to know about baptisms, so please keep studying, we have only scratched the surface here.
MARANATHA