Frequently Asked Questions Questions and Answers Submit your questions here. Names and locations of those submitting questions will be omitted unless they specify that such information may be included. First, we need to define the term baptism since like other words, baptism may be defined differently depending upon its context, or setting in usage.
Baptism is a transliteration of the Koine Greek word baptidzo , which always means immersion.
Consequently, whenever the New Testament uses the word, it always means immersion, and this is the definition that we must be concerned with to the elimination of all others. Those who have been baptized by any other means than immersion, or in any other element than water, are not Christians. Next, to the surprise of many, the Bible gives the answer as to what one must understand in order to be properly baptized. On the day of Pentecost in AD 33, a group of Jews who were convicted of sin by the message they had just heard, were greatly alarmed about their condition as murderers of the Son of God. It was the Holy Spirit who determined that these things needed to be understood.