Ordinances

Baptism may be administered also by pouring or sprinkling some water upon the head of the candidate

Many Churches teach that baptism can be administered by pouring or sprinkling some water upon the head of the candidate. Among them are the Roman Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Lutheran Church, the Anglican Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Reformed Church, the Methodist Church, the Waldensian Church, the Church of the Nazarene and others. Usually the Churches which practice infant baptism (or pedobaptism) administer baptism by pouring or sprinkling some water upon the head of the candidate. Here are the statements, concerning the way water baptism should be administered, made by some of the above mentioned Churches.

Roman Catholic Church: ‘The essential rite of Baptism consists in immersing the candidate in water or pouring water on his head, while pronouncing the invocation of the Most Holy Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1278)

Lutheran Church: "What is the meaning of the word 'baptize'? 'Baptize' means to apply water by washing, pouring, sprinkling, or immersing" (Luther's Small Catechism, par. 244, p. 170)

Presbyterian Church: "Dipping of the person into the water is not necessary; the Baptism is rightly administered by pouring or sprinkling water upon the person" - "Westminster Confession of Faith," par. 6.141, Presbyterian Book of Confessions, 1967 ed.

The Church of the Nazarene: ‘Baptism may be administered by sprinkling, pouring, or immersion, according to the choice of the applicant’ (Articles of Faith XII)

Confutation

Water baptism must be administered by immersion. Here is what the Scripture says about the baptism which was administered by evangelist Philip to the eunuch: “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing” (Acts 8:36-39). As you can see, Philip did not pour some water upon the head of the eunuch but he plunged the eunuch into water. On the other hand, to baptize (Greek baptizein) means to ‘plunge’ or ‘immerse.’

Let no one deceive you with empty words.

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