The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-03-17

Baptisms were effected. The whole scop
of patristic interpretations supplies no cas-
, of dipping expressed by this word baptis'
They ascribe the result, ceremonial puritica
ton, to the sacrifcial blood, the ashes Of
red heifer, and living (running) water; in
vested by divine enactment with the power
when applied by sprinkling, ordinarily, t.
effect the publication required. No envelop
ment by these agencies, nor dipping ant
them is required. The condition of puri6
cation called baptism by the Patrists, il
effected by sprinkling, washing or pouring
So Paul says, Heb. tx: 13, eff the ashes of {
heifer sprinkling the unclean, (of Mum. xix
49, sanctifeth to the purifying of the flesh,
&C., is in accord with the account of the
service as given also by Josephus. (Antiqi
iv: 4, saying, introducing little of the
ashes and-hyssOp branch into spring and
baptizing of this ashes," (genitive of the
agent or naeans,) (thus introduced into the
spring. they sprinkled, &C., denoting thus
the Oaptising, purifying of the flesh, by ap-
plication Of the agency in sprinkling.
Judaic baptism is condition of eeremO-
mail purifcatiOn, effected By uarsOUs agencies,
sOashing hands or feet, sprinkling blood or
ashes, pouring on of sOater, touch By coal Of
fire, (Is. vi: Z, or other modes and agencies,
dependent, IN no wise, on any specified form
or act, least of all, on "dipping and nothing
but dipping" or covering the object designed
to be (6aptizsd, orr purified csrsmonially.
In "JO1annic Baptism" the usage of
baptidzO exhibits the same fundamental
meaning, thorough change of condition, not
modal act, as has been established and il
lustrated in the two preceding volumes.
There is divinity of application, but not of
Specification. But there is no usage illus
trating change of condition by physical in
tus position, as in Classic Baptism, nor
change of condition, (by sprinkling, pour
ing, &c., from ceremonial impurity to cere-
mOniial purity as in "Judaic Baptism" The
word, however, is proved to be used with the
same force and in the same grammatical
form as by the Classics, but applied in the
specific, absolute sense of thorough change
of condition, under the influences of an ideal
element. In this too, there is neither refer
ence to the form of act or limitation of time.
In stating this summary of the results
reached in this part of the treatise, it is evi-
dent that progress has been made in the de-
velopment of the true meaning of the word
Baptidzo. From that of change of condi-
tion, in specified or implied relations of the
object, and then, with no such relations,
agency or means abOve stated developed in
"Classic Baptism" the word had passed, in
Jewish usage, to denote change of condi-
ton, specifically ceremonial parifcation.
But now, on the same fundamental force of
the word, and same grammatical forms,
another kind of changed condition has to be
expressed. Taking the word in it's absolute
use, the desired idea can only be presented
by an adjunct. The condition is spiritual
condition, and the element under the infu-
ence of which it is produced, Is ideal, not
material The word, then, while losing moth
ing of its power acquired through the long
period during which its usage has been traced,
now appears with new development in its
relations. John not only says, 81 6aptizs,"
but 81 baptizs into repentance" and farther
adjunct in the term "with water" Thus
the condition is that of Repentance, and this
condition induced vtrtually by use of water,
really, or "by the Holy Ghost" Another
illustration of the modifying adjuncts, is
found in the expression, " Baptism of Re-
pentance into remission of SINS
a. First, attention must be called to the
word Baptism. In our translation this re-
presents two different Greek words. One,
that used in this passage, and frequently to
describe the work of John, is derived from
the word 6aptidzo, and according to its mode
of derivation, denotes the effect, result, pro-
duct or state, induced by the verb. To bap-
tszs means to put an object in changed con-
dition by any agency or mode, act, adequate
to effect that condition and so baptism, the
noun, denotes that condition, and with the
adjunct "of repentance" expressing such
condition under the influence of repentance.
To the same idea, the form for expressing
what John did, as already seen, leads our
conclusion. This phrase Baptism Z" of Re-
pentance" is peculiar to the narrative OF
Johnss ministry and is conceded by eminent
Baptist authorities to be the same as Bap-
tism of John, both denOting the doctrine or
matter of his preaching. Hence We have
the phrases, "JOhn baptized with the bap-
tism of Repentance" in reply to certain who
answered the question "Into what were ye
baptized?" by saying "into Johns Baptism,
Acts xix: 8, 4. So also "being baptized
with the Baptism of JOhn," Luke vii: 20
The word "with' is supplied in our version
The proper term to be supplied is "accord
ing to, inasmuCh as "baptism' is in a case
which could not take "with' before it il
the Greek construction. So it was said
" John baptized according to) the baptism
of Repentance" and "being baptized FAC
cOrding to- Johns baptism"
(2.) The next adjunct "into remission O
SINS is farther modification of the term