On Baptism

I just had a class with Dr. Pentecost. We were discussing the three passages of Jesus' baptism (Mt 3:13–17, Mk 1:9–11 and Lk 3:21–22). Dr. P alluded to an interesting point—the breadth in terminology of the word, baptism.

A lot of times those baptists (myself included?) enjoy getting themselves into heated arguments, and defenses on baptism: "there is only one way that it should be done", "it must be done in the church", "baptism is only legitimate if performed on a believer", etc., etc. However, Dr. brought up an interesting point:

When we talk about "baptism," we must distinguish which baptism we refer to, because there are more than one types.

In fact, Dr. P. argued, there are seven types. Take a look:

1. Proselyte Baptism in the OT. In the ancient world, Gentiles could become part of the Jewish (Hebrew) faith by entering into the Covenant of Abraham, and the Covenant of Moses. They would enter a new lifestyle, learn the Law, the Customs, be circumsized, and go through a ceremonial bathing, or baptism. Significance: Baptism here symbolizes a change in identity.
2. Baptism of Household Objects. This was done to make things ceremonially clean. Significance: They would be cleansed, or set apart through water. This, however, is not a cleansing of impurity or sin, but a separation from the mundane. The objects would be dipped (or sprinkled) with water, and were therefore set apart from the secular to the sacred. (ref. Lev 11:32)
3. Indwelling (Baptism) of the Holy Spirit. This occurred once, on the Day of Pentecost, and is universal for believers. At the moment of genuine, redemptive faith, the believer is "baptized" in (or "by," or "with") the Holy Spirit. Significance: Those in the community of faith have something present that was lacking prior to the time of the Acts of the Apostles. (ref. Acts 1:5)
4. Baptism Into One Body. Significance: Those in the community have an unprecedented reality of fellowship and union with one another. (ref. 1 Cor 12:13)
5. Baptism Into Christ Jesus, into His death. Significance: This marks our association with Jesus and defines a reality, not an activity. Meaning this—this baptism is not when we get immersed in water, but it is a spiritual reality (just like points 3 and 4). (ref. Rom 6:3)
6. The Baptism Of Jesus, in the Jordan River. This was not a baptism of repentance, nor for sin, as Jesus was without sin and in no need of repentance. Notice how John at first refuses to baptize Jesus (Mt 3:14). He does so because Jesus is not in need of the baptism which John had been performing up to this point. Jesus' baptism was something completely different... and singular in nature. Significance: Jesus' baptism was much like the High Priest of Old, placing his hand upon the scapegoat on the Day of Atonement. The High Priest would transmit all of the people's sin onto an animal, without blemish and pure. Jesus is going through this process at His baptism, He is associating Himself with humanity, in order that He might remove our sin.
7. Believer's Baptism. This is the baptism commanded by our Lord in the Great Commission (Mt 28). Those who believe, out of faith are to be baptized in obedience to Jesus' command, and to be associated with the Church.

It is important that we realize there are numerous types of baptisms as laid out in scripture, and we should be careful not to assume that every time "baptize" or "baptism" appears in the Bible it is referencing the same thing.