Who can baptize?

[HeDied4U]

Saw this question asked on another forum. Would like to hear your opinions....

Can any born again believer baptize another believer, or must baptism be performed by an "officer" of the church only?

 

[Torrent v.2]

Saw this question asked on another forum. Would like to hear your opinions....

Can any born again believer baptize another believer, or must baptism be performed by an "officer" of the church only?

Anyone can.  Jesus told his disciples to go, teach, baptize and teach. And there is no command in the NT that limits who can baptize.

 

[Izdaari]

Saw this question asked on another forum. Would like to hear your opinions....

Can any born again believer baptize another believer, or must baptism be performed by an "officer" of the church only?

Anyone can.  Jesus told his disciples to go, teach, baptize and teach. And there is no command in the NT that limits who can baptize.

Agreed. I haven't researched it but I think that's right.

 

[rsc2a]

...unless you are Presbyterian.

 

[Ransom]

The pattern we see in the New Testament is of the apostles or their appointed delegates doing the baptizing.  I'd say that by extension, the intended administration of baptism is by duly appointed officers of a local assembly, or by missionaries or church-planters also commissioned to expand the Kingdom. Baptism is, after all, a church ordinance!

That said, I believe that in an "emergency," the minimum requirements for a scriptural baptism are:

• it be done upon a sincere confession of faith;
• it be done by full immersion, unless the candidate's health or mobility would cause hardship; and
• it be done in the presence of witnesses.

 

[Mathew Ward]

As Scott said it is a church ordinance. 

I think that each church should look and determine their practice of baptism.

1.  A proper candidate (saved)
2.  A proper method (immersion...showing death, burial & resurrection)
3.  The proper authority (church)
4.  The proper motivation of the candidate (good conscience to God)
5.  A proper setting (public)

On a side note...As a father one of my greatest joys was baptizing my son.

 

[christundivided]

3.  The proper authority (church)

There you go. Its doesn't matter if that local church is self appointed. It just matters that "someone" actually recognizes "said" authority. That makes "perfect" sense......

There are no restrictions on who can baptize anyone. Judas was a devil from the beginning. He never tasted eternal life... Yet, no one Judas baptized needed to get "re-baptized". Its not about who does the "baptizing". Its all about the candidate. That said, Obama shouldn't baptize anyone though he is the President of the United States. I'd look for someone with a least a little character.

 

[graceandtruth]

As Scott said it is a church ordinance. 

I think that each church should look and determine their practice of baptism.

1.  A proper candidate (saved)
2.  A proper method (immersion...showing death, burial & resurrection)
3.  The proper authority (church)
4.  The proper motivation of the candidate (good conscience to God)
5.  A proper setting (public)

On a side note...As a father one of my greatest joys was baptizing my son.

Good posts guys.  I see no problem with the church sanctioning parents or someone else baptizing people besides pastors, deacons, etc.  It makes for a wonderful memory and there is no scriptural injunction against it.

 

[Castor Muscular]

My pastor baptized me over a dozen times, and then gave up.  He complained that I kept bobbing back up out of the water.

 

[Torrent v.2]

The pattern we see in the New Testament is of the apostles or their appointed delegates doing the baptizing.  I'd say that by extension, the intended administration of baptism is by duly appointed officers of a local assembly, or by missionaries or church-planters also commissioned to expand the Kingdom. Baptism is, after all, a church ordinance!

That said, I believe that in an "emergency," the minimum requirements for a scriptural baptism are:

• it be done upon a sincere confession of faith;
• it be done by full immersion, unless the candidate's health or mobility would cause hardship; and
• it be done in the presence of witnesses.

Good thoughts.  The question I was answering is who "CAN?"

I agree that there is a pattern, and that the intention is to follow that pattern.  However, I also believe that there is no didactic teaching that commands that a certain person perform it, other than believer. Jesus said to his disciples in Matthew 28 to baptize, and to teach people to follow all that he commanded. I believe that includes the command to baptize.  In other words, every believer is a member of the church. They may not be a member of an organized local assenbly, but they are members of his church and are to follow all of his commands and if they have opportunity, they should baptize.

 

[Mathew Ward]

There are no restrictions on who can baptize anyone.

Matthew 28:16-20  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Sounds like the command was NOT given to Judas. 

Whether he did or did not baptize earlier would be speculation.

 

[christundivided]

There are no restrictions on who can baptize anyone.

Matthew 28:16-20  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Sounds like the command was NOT given to Judas. 

Whether he did or did not baptize earlier would be speculation.

I thought you knew your bible better than that....

Joh 4:2  (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

It is silly to think that Judas never baptized anyone. I assume you believe that Judas never preached, never prayed or even told the Lord he loved him???... since the Scriptures never said specifically that he did.

 

[Mathew Ward]

There are no restrictions on who can baptize anyone.

Matthew 28:16-20  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Sounds like the command was NOT given to Judas. 

Whether he did or did not baptize earlier would be speculation.

I thought you knew your bible better than that....

Joh 4:2  (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

It is silly to think that Judas never baptized anyone. I assume you believe that Judas never preached, never prayed or even told the Lord he loved him???... since the Scriptures never said specifically that he did.

Was that all of his disciples, some of his disciples or most of his disciples?

For you to say Judas baptized is to speculate.

If you think it means each and every disciple of Jesus baptized, would that include women or were there no women disciples?

 

[Reformed Guy]

So if little Tommy and Sally are splashing in the kiddie pool, and Tommy pushes Sally under the water declaring "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" some of y'all are going to argue that Sally has been duly baptized?

Really? 

"No restrictions" you say...

 

[christundivided]

There are no restrictions on who can baptize anyone.

Matthew 28:16-20  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Sounds like the command was NOT given to Judas. 

Whether he did or did not baptize earlier would be speculation.

I thought you knew your bible better than that....

Joh 4:2  (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

It is silly to think that Judas never baptized anyone. I assume you believe that Judas never preached, never prayed or even told the Lord he loved him???... since the Scriptures never said specifically that he did.

Was that all of his disciples, some of his disciples or most of his disciples?

For you to say Judas baptized is to speculate.

If you think it means each and every disciple of Jesus baptized, would that include women or were there no women disciples?

Obviously it was "some". Yet, it is silly to think that "some" excluded Judas. He was one of the 12 and there is no reason to believe anyone one of the 12 didn't baptize anyone. Especially over the coarse of a couple years and thousands of converts. You know this. You're just being silly because you didn't remember the verse I referenced. Just admit that you messed up. I know its hard for a baptist to do this.... but hey, its okay. I mess up from time to time myself.

 

[christundivided]

So if little Tommy and Sally are splashing in the kiddie pool, and Tommy pushes Sally under the water declaring "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" some of y'all are going to argue that Sally has been duly baptized?

Really? 

"No restrictions" you say...

No one said anything about supporting infant baptism...  8)

 

[Torrent v.2]

So if little Tommy and Sally are splashing in the kiddie pool, and Tommy pushes Sally under the water declaring "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" some of y'all are going to argue that Sally has been duly baptized?

Really? 

"No restrictions" you say...

If he is a believer and they both understand what he is doing and Little Sally truly is a believer, why not?

 

[Mathew Ward]

There are no restrictions on who can baptize anyone.

Matthew 28:16-20  Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Sounds like the command was NOT given to Judas. 

Whether he did or did not baptize earlier would be speculation.

I thought you knew your bible better than that....

Joh 4:2  (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)

It is silly to think that Judas never baptized anyone. I assume you believe that Judas never preached, never prayed or even told the Lord he loved him???... since the Scriptures never said specifically that he did.

Was that all of his disciples, some of his disciples or most of his disciples?

For you to say Judas baptized is to speculate.

If you think it means each and every disciple of Jesus baptized, would that include women or were there no women disciples?

Obviously it was "some". Yet, it is silly to think that "some" excluded Judas. He was one of the 12 and there is no reason to believe anyone one of the 12 didn't baptize anyone. Especially over the coarse of a couple years and thousands of converts. You know this. You're just being silly because you didn't remember the verse I referenced. Just admit that you messed up. I know its hard for a baptist to do this.... but hey, its okay. I mess up from time to time myself.

Please reference reply #10 when I stated to say that Judas baptized would be speculation, before you got me with this text verse of speculation.  I had already considered the verse, that is why I said to say that Judas baptized would be speculating.

 

[Thomas Cassidy]

I agree with Scott. Baptism is a church ordinance. Whoever the church authorizes can baptize. In the church I pastored for over 26 years the pastor, the associate pastors, the deacons, and even some laymen baptized people. All of them were doing so under the authority of the local congregation.