The Greek is remarkably perspicuous in construction, and definite in significance. There are terms expressing the application of liquids in almost every conceivable manner:—Cheo, I pour; Raino, I sprinkle; Louo, I wash, bathe; Nipto, I wash my hands or a part of my person; Bathizo, I immerse or plunge, well deep, from Bathos the bottom; Rantizo, from Raino, I sprinkle, shed forth; Bapto, I dip, I dye; Baptizo, I dip or immerse.
Now of all the words indicating the application of liquids, our Saviour commanded the action contained in the last, Baptizo, as expressing his will and no other.
If the word used by him does not mean immerse simply, then the Greek language possessed no word that did.
That this was the original institution, is beyond a doubt, and it continued the only form of the ordinance for more than 1300 years, except in cases of inability on account of sickness, or in present danger of death. In such cases it was thought that affusion would answer for baptism.—Bible Banner.