Defining Bible Words
A common mistake that can be made in Bible study is defining Bible words with modern dictionaries. Take the word “baptism” from Romans 6:4 as an example. If we search for the word “baptism” in a modern dictionary its definition includes things like “sprinkling, pouring” and includes the baptism of infants.
Yet, is this what “baptism” referred to as it was
originally used by the early church? The meaning of words changes over
time. Could the same be true for “baptism” and other Bible words? We can
understand the original meanings of Bible words.
So, to help better understand Bible words—follow these steps.
First, examine the context for clues. Romans 6:4 uses the word “buried” to describe our baptism. It compares this burial to that of Christ at His death, prior to His resurrection (6:4-5). Already, the context seems to deny sprinkling or pouring and confirms immersion as the mode of baptism suggested in the text (see also Acts 8:38-39).
Second, look up the word in Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance. It is #G908 and simply means “baptism.” This is not much help here. So, next, look up the word in a fuller dictionary such as Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words which defines BAPTISMA as, “baptism, consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, to dip)…”
For an even fuller definition, go to something like Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon. Then, to determine how it was used in classical Greek go to something like Kittle’s Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. These resources and methods will greatly aid your understanding of Bible words.
March 2007