remarkable book on baptism

Originally posted on December 06, 2008 – by Andre Piet

Rev. Harry Bultema (1884–1952) was a native of Groningen who emigrated to the United States at a young age. He pursued a theological education and became a prominent pastor in the Christian Reformed Church in Michigan. Bultema published extensively, among other things on prophecy and the special role of the apostle Paul, but for that very reason, after much struggle, he and his congregation were placed outside the church denomination (1922).

With pleasure I can report that this week, following the earlier publication of The Lawful Use of the Law, the (excellent!) Dutch translation of Bultema’s The Bible and Baptism has also been placed on the internet. Much contention has arisen over the centuries regarding water baptism: over the question of who may baptize or be baptized, how one should be baptized, at what age, with which formula, etc., etc. Bultema’s book is of an entirely different order and cannot be categorized within the classic oppositions.

Bultema first of all convincingly sets forth that “the doctrine of baptisms” belongs to the foundation of Israel’s worship (Heb. 6:2). The Bible explicitly calls the obligatory washings and ritual purifications under the Old Covenant “baptisms” (Mark 7:4; Heb. 9:10 – baptismos). In order to prepare the people of Israel for the coming of the Messiah, John came baptizing in water (John 1:31). This baptism in water, however, was only a type of the spiritual baptism that the Messiah Himself would introduce (Acts 1:5). The self-evidence with which the average Bible reader, when thinking of baptism, thinks of water baptism, is exposed by Bultema.

Bultema also shows with great force how the apostle Paul in his letters often speaks about baptism, yet always refers to immersion into (= union with) Christ. This is not a water baptism but a baptism in one Spirit into one Body (1 Cor. 12:13). Not a drop of water is involved, nor is it in any sense “a work of human hands.” This is the “one baptism” (Eph. 4:6) that matters in the ecclesia, the Body of Christ. When Paul does on one occasion speak about water baptism, he tellingly remarks that he thanks God that he baptized hardly anyone and that Christ did not send him to baptize (1 Cor. 1:14–17).

In What Does the Bible Say About Baptism, Bultema shows that the water baptism in the book of Acts is nothing other than “the baptism of John.” The “rebaptism” that Paul is supposed to have applied to the disciples in Ephesus is based on a reading error (> Acts 19:5 grammatically refers to the people who listened to John). Bultema’s expositions on “the Great Commission” (Matt. 28) are also fascinating. The idea that Jesus would have sent the apostles out to baptize all nations in water was in any case not understood that way by the apostles themselves, if only because elsewhere we nowhere again find the formula of Matt. 28:19. No, all nations will in due time, through Israel, be immersed into the teaching of the Father, the Son, and the holy Spirit. This is in fulfillment of the prophecy that the Messiah will sprinkle many nations (Isa. 52:15; St. Vert.).

Just a few summarizing remarks in connection with Bultema’s book. The message of this weblog will be clear. The Bible and Baptism is an absolute recommendation!

P.S. This study can be found on the website www.bijbelsdenken.nl. It is also well worth reading the many other articles on this website. I am thinking in particular of the articles “God’s Good News,” “what is wrong with the church?” and “the letters of Paul.”

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