Jesus was baptized by immersion when He started His ministry (Luke 3:23). The early Church continued to practice adult baptism by immersion. But are there other examples of this style of baptism?

Immersion in Art

Baptism by immersion has been portrayed in art through the centuries. Johannes Warns says this in his book on baptism:

The so called baptisteries or baptismal chapels in the oldest Catholic churches are further proof that all churches for centuries performed baptisms by immersion. They contain great baptismal basins, (with descending steps), and often, in addition, a room for baptismal instruction…In the Italian work Il Battistero di Parma, by Michaele Lopez, no fewer than sixty six such baptisteries in Italy are named, the construction of which falls between the fourth and fourteenth centuries.ⁱ

According to historian Philip Schaff, the catacomb of St. Calixtus held pictures of immersion baptismals from the second century.ⁱⁱ

On the baptismal font of Verona is a picture of the baptism of Christ:

The water of the Jordan is raised into a hillock, and our Saviour is being immersed in it.ⁱⁱⁱ

And the baptistry of Pisa has a scene of Jesus in the Jordan with water up to His neck.^iv

Immersion in History

Archaeology tells us that early Byzantine churches were equipped with baptismal fonts, designed for baptizing men and women by immersion (see the parallel in Acts 8:12). Even Roman Catholic sources admit to this fact, as can be seen by the writings of Catholic Cardinal James Gibbons:

For several centuries after the establishment of Christianity, baptism was usually conferred by immersion; but since the twelfth century, the practice of baptising by infusion has prevailed in the Catholic Church, as this manner is attended with less inconvenience than baptism by immersion.^v

Through the centuries, baptism by immersion has been practiced by various religious groups. Anabaptists, Mennonites, and eventually the great Baptist movement spread the doctrine of Biblical baptism.

In the early 1600s, John Smyth, a pastor in the Church of England joined the separatists who emigrated to Holland to escape the persecution of James the First:

[He] formed the first Church composed of Englishmen that is known to have stood for the baptism of believers only.^vi

From this humble beginning, the Baptist movement has spread over the world and become one of the strongest forces in Protestantism.

If you are considering baptism and would like to discuss this with someone, speak to your pastor, or contact us at info@amazingdiscoveries.org with the subject line "I am considering baptism."

i. Johannes Warns, Baptism (London: The Paternoster Press, 1957): 327-328.

ii. Philip Schaff, Teaching of the Twelve Apostles (New York: Charles Schribner's Sons. 1885): 36.

iii. Wolfred N. Cote, The Archaeology of Baptism (London: Yates and Alexander, 1876): 195.

iv. Martiru, Theatrum Basilicae Pisanae: Appendix. As quoted in Wolfred N. Cote, The Archaeology of Baptism (London: Yates and Alexander, 1876): 203.

v. Cardinal James Gibbons, Faith of Our Fathers 76^th edition: 266.

vi. Henry C. Vedder, Short History of the Baptists (BiblioBazaar, LLC, 2009).