📖 Biblical Definition
Immersion is the mode of baptism in which the candidate is fully submerged in water and raised again. Its biblical warrant is the etymology of baptizo, John's baptism in the Jordan (Mt 3:16, went up straightway out of the water), the Ethiopian eunuch's scene (Acts 8:38, went down both into the water), and Romans 6's union-with-Christ-in-death-and-resurrection picture: buried with him by baptism into death... raised up to walk in newness of life.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
(Mode of baptism.) The full submersion of the candidate in water; corresponds to union with Christ in His death and resurrection.
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IMMERSION, n. The act of immersing, or the state of being immersed; specifically, the application of water to a person in baptism by plunging him into it.
Baptist, Eastern Orthodox, and many Pentecostal traditions practice immersion as the only proper mode. The argument rests on (1) the etymology of baptizo, (2) the topographical hints in Gospel and Acts narratives, and (3) the Romans 6 typology of burial and resurrection.
📖 Key Scripture
Matthew 3:16 — "And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water."
Acts 8:38 — "And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him."
Romans 6:4 — "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
Colossians 2:12 — "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Some Christians dismiss immersion as theatrical; the typology of burial and resurrection is biblically strong, and the etymology favors it.
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Romans 6:4 and Colossians 2:12 frame baptism as burial-and-resurrection imagery. Going under the water and rising again pictures union with Christ in His death and resurrection. The dramatic visual is itself the discipling moment.
Other traditions practice other modes for typology that is also biblical. Charity holds that the Lord's baptized are made by Word and Spirit, however the water is applied. But for visualizing union-with-Christ-in-death-and-resurrection, immersion is the strongest picture.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Greek baptizō in its most literal sense.
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Greek baptizō — to dip, immerse, plunge.
Note: classical Greek used baptizō of dyeing fabric (full immersion required), shipwrecks (sunken), and ritual washing.
Usage
"Romans 6 makes baptism into burial-and-resurrection imagery."
"Going under and rising again pictures union with Christ."
"The dramatic visual is itself the discipling moment."