Romans Original

     The question between Immersion churches and sprinkling churches is which was original. That should be the issue anyway. Anyone can always say God has no problem with sprinkling for baptism without God actually endorsing the practice. Many may try to speak for God without him endorsing them. They assume he endorses them.

We know the issue was brought up in Rome before 400 AD when Jovinian and Helvidius taught in Rome, they actually brought in outside teachers to debate their positions on subjects like the ever-virginity of Mary. They didn't have local teachers sufficient to uphold their theories. Those brought from outside Rome actually presented some false ideas that can be disproven. This would imply at one time Immersion in Rome was the standard practice. The question is still whether Immersion was original.

Paul in teaching baptism in the letter to the Romans describes it as a death, burial, and resurrection. Thus, immersion seems to be the standard practice in Paul's day. Since this was written directly to the Romans before Paul had actually visited there, there may have been a group in Rome already deviating. Sprinkling and pouring may have been introduced to Rome before Paul or Peter actually visited the city. We know that sprinkling was used in Roman mystery religions. Thus, sprinkling being introduced before any Apostle visited is possible, perhaps even likely.

It seems the Holy Spirit was giving evidence for immersion even before an apostle ever went there, based upon common deviations in Rome.

The practice of sprinkling was likely not from either Apostle since they had not visited there yet. Paul seems very much to see baptism as an immersion. It symbolizes burial. Paul did not openly teach sprinkling in Romans but did see baptism as immersion.

Rom 6:3  (G2228) Know ye not,G50 thatG3754 so many of us asG3745 were baptizedG907 intoG1519 JesusG2424 ChristG5547 were baptizedG907 intoG1519 hisG848 death?G2288 

Rom 6:4  ThereforeG3767 we are buriedG4916 with himG846 byG1223 baptismG908 intoG1519 death:G2288 thatG2443 like asG5618 ChristG5547 was raised upG1453 fromG1537 the deadG3498 byG1223 theG3588 gloryG1391 of theG3588 Father,G3962 evenG2532 soG3779 weG2249 alsoG2532 should walkG4043 inG1722 newnessG2538 of life.G2222 

Rom 6:5  ForG1063 ifG1487 we have beenG1096 planted togetherG4854 in theG3588 likenessG3667 of hisG848 death,G2288 we shall beG2071 (G235) alsoG2532 in the likeness of his resurrection:G386 

Since Romans was written before Paul or Peter went there, this has some ramifications.

1. It is possible Christians there were beginning to mix sprinkling from mystery religions. It explains why the Holy Spirit decided to include it.

2. The theory upholding sprinkling was not common to mainstream christianity.

3. Infant baptism was not yet spread through mainstream christianity, but the seeds were beginning.

4. When infant baptism was debated in the 2nd century, it had time over close to a century away from Roman's writing to grow and spread, especially since the apostles were passed.

5. Sprinkling or pouring on the forehead isn't a burial.

Then Romans 6:17-18, speaking of baptism and the life after calls it obedience. This is something children can't do till they understand who Jesus is.

Rom 6:16  KnowG1492 ye not,G3756 thatG3754 to whomG3739 ye yieldG3936 yourselvesG1438 servantsG1401 toG1519 obey,G5218 his servantsG1401 ye areG2075 to whomG3739 ye obey;G5219 whetherG2273 of sinG266 untoG1519 death,G2288 orG2228 of obedienceG5218 untoG1519 righteousness?G1343 

Rom 6:17  ButG1161 God be thanked,G2316 G5485 thatG3754 ye wereG2258 the servantsG1401 of sin,G266 butG1161 ye have obeyedG5219 fromG1537 the heartG2588 that formG5179 of doctrineG1322 (G1519) whichG3739 was deliveredG3860 you. 

The righteousness of Christ is only given in obedience beginning with baptism. Babes can't obey.