What is the proper method of baptism?
The Baptist Church and some other churches hold that full-body immersion is necessary for valid baptism. They note that the original Greek word for baptize, baptizo, meant to immerse or submerge. In addition, most of the early church baptisms were apparently by immersion. However, a majority of churches use sprinkling or pouring of water over the head instead of immersion. They note that baptizo could also mean a simple washing, as it does in Luke 11:38. In addition, the Old Testament baptisms were performed in a variety of ways, and some of the New Testament baptisms apparently did not involve immersion (Acts 10:47-48, Acts 16:29-34). The Christian Church’s expansion from the Mediterranean area into colder climates may help explain the decline of the immersion method of baptism.
