A lot of Baptist will talk about the Greek word “Eis” in Acts 2:38. They say it means because of. How do I explain that to them?
When Baptists teach that salvation is by faith only and that there is nothing a person can or must do to be saved, they contradict very clear passages of Scripture.
Must a person believe in order to be saved? (Heb. 11:6).
Must a person repent of sin in order to be saved? (Luke 13:3-5).
Must a person be baptized for the remission of sins in order to be saved? (Acts 2:37-38).
Someone answering from an unbiased point of reference would say yes, yes, and yes. Because it is clearly what the Bible says. However, a good Baptist will reply yes, yes, and no. Because they are answering from the biased reference point of denominational doctrine. And, when they are called on to explain why they would say that baptism is not essential to a person’s salvation, they twist and squirm their way through the very clear teaching of Scripture, making up all manner of nonsensical and illogical explanations. Their use, or misuse, of the word eis is just one example of this.
The most quoted source that Baptists use is Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament. On Acts 2:38, and eis, Robertson says this:
In themselves the words can express aim or purpose …. But then another usage exists which is just as good Greek as the use of [eis] for aim or purpose. It is seen in Matt. 10:41 in three examples … where it cannot be purpose or aim, but rather the basis or ground, on the basis of the name of prophet, righteous man, disciple, because one is, etc. It is seen again in Matt. 12:41 about the preaching of Jonah …. They repented because of (or at) the preaching of Jonah. The illustrations of both usages are numerous in the N.T. and the Koiné generally (Robertson, Grammar, p. 592). One will decide the use here according as he believes that baptism is essential to the remission of sins or not. My view is decidedly against the idea that Peter, Paul, or any one in the New Testament taught baptism as essential to the remission of sins or the means of securing such remission [emp. mine, NSF]. So I understand Peter to be urging baptism on each of them who had already turned (repented) and for it to be done in the name of Jesus Christ on the basis of the forgiveness of sins which they had already received (Robertson, A. (1997). Word Pictures in the New Testament (Ac 2:38). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems).
So, Robertson admits here that the reason he takes the word eis to mean “because of” is because of his biased view toward the doctrine of baptism. He is not being honest with the word itself or the doctrine of Christ in general. Why would he have this biased view toward the doctrine of baptism? Maybe this opening to his biography on “Christians Classic Ethereal Library” (http://www.ccel.org/ccel/robertson_at), will help answer the question. “Archibald Thomas Robertson was born near Chatham, Virginia, but grew up on a farm in North Carolina. In 1876, he was baptized and began his lifelong loyalty to the Southern Baptist Church [emp. mine, NSF].” He couldn’t rightly interpret eis in Acts 2:38 and maintain “his lifelong loyalty to the Southern Baptist Church.”
When you look up the word eis in a dictionary, instead of a commentary, the meaning is given as:
1519. eis; prep. governing the acc. with the primary idea of motion into any place or thing; also of motion or direction to, toward or upon any place, thing. The antithesis is expressed by ek (1537), out of (Zodhiates, S. (2000). The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers).
Though Baptists insist that the word eis in Acts 2:38 should be translated “because of,” I cannot find an English translation of the Bible that so translates the word! The American Standard Version of 1901, widely considered the most accurate and literal translation of the Greek New Testament, says this:
“And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38, 1901 ASV)
Maybe now we know why denominationalists have abandoned the ASV! It’s too accurate for them.
The RSV says, “so that your sins may be forgiven.” Even the very liberal “God’s Word Translation” says, “you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins will be forgiven.” Young’s Literal Translation says, “to remission of sins.” I have 22 different translation and not a single one translate eis in Acts 2:38 as “because of.”
What about the passages Robertson gives as so-called examples of where the word eis means “because of”? He uses Matt. 10:41 and 12:41 as examples. However, neither of these shows that eis means “because of.” In the first passage, does “receives a prophet in (eis) the name of a prophet mean that he is to be received “because” he is a prophet? Or does it mean he is to be received into the proper respect and fellowship that he is due? Notice that Jesus says receiving them “in the name of…” brings the same reward that they receive. That reward wouldn’t come simply by receiving them because they are a prophet or righteous person. That reward would come from receiving them into fellowship of like precious faith (2 Pet. 1:1). So, eis doesn’t mean “because of.”
In the second example, Matt. 12:41, it is said that Nineveh repented “because of” the preaching of Jonah. However, the reason they would “rise up in the judgment with [that] generation and condemn it,” was because when they heard the preaching of God’s word they did what it said. In other words, they repented into the preaching of Jonah. They took what Jonah preached and they put it into practice in their lives. That is the significance of the word eis in that passage. Again, it does not mean “because of.”
So, respected Greek Lexicons, Word Studies, and Grammars agree that eis means into, unto, toward, upon, etc. The vast majority of English translations agree that eis is to be translated to, for, into, at, etc. never because of!
Even if you allow them their unwarranted use of eis to mean because of in certain instances, which there is no good evidence that you should, but even if you did allow for it, Robertson says “One will decide the use here [Acts 2:38] according as he believes that baptism is essential to the remission of sins or not.” So let’s see how the word eis is used in connection with baptism and/or the remission of sins.
Acts 2:38 says, eis aphesin ton hamartion [into sending off of the sins]. In Matthew 26:28, Jesus says His blood was shed eis aphesin hamartion [into sending off of sin]. In English, baptism is for the remission of sins and the blood of Christ is for the remission of sins. The wording in the Greek is nearly identical! So, if for the remission of sins in Acts 2:38 means because of the remission of sins, why doesn’t it mean because of the remission of sins in Matt. 26:28? If baptism is because of the remission of sins then the blood of Christ is because of the remission of sins. If not, why not? And, if the Baptists will say that baptism is because of the remission of sins means that baptism is not essential to salvation then neither would the blood of Christ be essential for salvation! The Baptists treatment of the Greek in Acts 2:38 actually has them denying the essentiality of the blood of Christ for our salvation!
When we see the connection that baptism has to the blood of Christ it is easy to see how both the blood of Christ could be said to be for the remission of sins and baptism could be said to be for the remission of sins. Paul said that he was baptized to have his sins washed away (Acts 22:16) and Rev. 1:5 says Christ is the one who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. Paul recognized the point at which he was washed in the blood of Christ as being the point of his baptism. That is what he wrote in Rom. 6:3-5.
Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into [eis] Christ Jesus were baptized into [eis] His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into [eis] death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,” (Romans 6:3–5, NKJV)
When we humbly submit to the doctrine of Christ in baptism we are emulating the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We are buried with Him through baptism and raised with Him in newness of life. Christ shed His blood for [eis, Matt. 26:28] the remission of our sins in His death on the Cross. We contact that redeeming blood when we are baptized into that death. In other words, His death pays the price for our sins when we are baptized into that death. Where is newness of life in this passage, before or after baptism? One is baptized into Christ, into His death, then raised with Him to walk in newness of life.
There are numerous passages revealing the essential nature of baptism to salvation: Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Acts 22:16; Rom. 6:3-4; Gal. 3:26-27; Col. 2:12; 1 Pet. 3:21; et. al. Yet Baptists, and others, vainly attempt to explain away each one instead of simply humbly submitting to the doctrine of Christ.
I received the following response from David J. Georgeff of Grace Community Baptist Church in Jerseyville:
I sincerely appreciate Mr. Georgeff’s response but I have to wonder if he actually read what I wrote above. If he did he surely would not have used the very arguments that I had already refuted. I would also ask Mr. Georgeff to please do a concordial search for “faith only” or “faith alone” and see what comes up. Surely if “salvation is solely by faith” then it would say that somewhere in the Bible. I would like to see one single verse anywhere that says salvation is by “faith alone” or “faith only.” Please provide a verse anywhere that uses such a term.
I’m not sure if Mr. Georgeff will be willing to continue our discussion here, or in a public forum, but I will post a fuller response to what he has written above.
In Mr. Georgeff’s letter (above), he makes several points as to why he believes eis means because of.
His first statement is the same old answer Baptists always give, baptism is the outward show of an inward faith. Those weren’t his exact words but that’s what he said. When he said that Peter calls on them to prove the genuineness of their repentance by submitting to public baptism, that is what he is saying, baptism is the outward show of an inward faith. But, I ask, where does the Bible ever call baptism a symbol? Baptism is not a symbol of anything, it is an act of obedience to the faith (Rom. 1:5; 16:26).
The comparison of baptism to what Jesus told the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-27), is taking both grossly out of context. When Jesus told the rich young ruler to go and sell what he had and then come follow Him, he was pointing out to the rich young ruler that there was something hindering him from full faithfulness to God. He was talking to someone who was already in a covenant relation with God, not an alien sinner (Luke 18:20-21). There is no application or parallel whatsoever between the rich young ruler and the doctrine of baptism.
I completely agree with the principle Mr. Georgeff refers to as analogia Scriptura, though I’ve never heard it called that. Truth is truth and will never contradict itself. If a person’s understanding of one passage causes a contradiction with another passage then their understanding of one or both is incorrect and must be harmonized with everything else the Bible teaches. I contend that it is Mr. Georgeff and denominationalism that is presenting a position that causes contradictions. He says that baptism cannot be required for salvation because that would contradict the doctrine that salvation is solely by faith. That is true, it does contradict the denominational doctrine of faith only salvation. But it does not contradict the biblical doctrine of salvation.
It becomes clear that Mr. Georgeff is attempting to defend a man-made doctrine, and not Scripture, when you see the passages he uses. He claims that these passages teach salvation is solely by faith. However, they do not! The passages cited, like John 1:12 and John 3:16, state that salvation is received by those who believe in Christ. The problem is with the idea that biblical faith can be separated from obedience. There is no such thing as biblical faith without obedience! (Jas. 2:17-18). Every example of Hebrews 11 shows that faith is expressed through obedience. It is the false doctrine of faith only salvation that contradicts the Bible.
Notice Mr. Georgeff’s use of Acts 16:31 in an attempt to show that salvation is solely by faith. Who’s understanding of Acts 2:38 actually contradicts the account of the Philippian jailor in Acts 16:25ff? Mr. Georgeff says the jailor was saved in Acts 16:31 when Paul told him to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. However, when does the text say that the jailor did what Paul told him to do in Acts 16:31? It is in Acts 16:34, having believed in God with all his household. After he had heard the word of God preached (Acts 16:32). After he had washed Paul and Silas’ stripes (Acts 16:33). After he and his household had been baptized (Acts 16:34).
To go to Acts 16:31 and say that it proves salvation is solely by faith, in isolation from the rest of the passage, is ignorant at best and outright dishonest at worst. When Paul told the jailor to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in Acts 16:31, the jailor hadn’t even heard the gospel! When Paul answers the question, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:30), the text then goes on to show what the jailor did in order to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. If it was not essential to his believing on the Lord Jesus Christ for him to be baptized then why be baptized in the middle of the night, after an earthquake and nearly committing suicide? Seems to me like he might of said, now that I’m saved solely by faith I can get some rest after this very traumatic night and schedule my baptism for when I can be together with the church. No, that kind of thinking only comes with man-made denominational doctrine! When someone understands the necessity of baptism there will be a sense of urgency involved. The kind of urgency that would lead someone to be baptized in the middle of the night (Acts 16:33), or in a pool on the side of the road (Acts 8:36).
The passages from Romans are another example of isolating passages from their context, which leads to contradictions. When Paul is making the distinction between faith and works in Romans, he is dealing with a specific problem with the Jewish converts to Christ. They were being converted from a corrupted system of Judaism that had emphasized formalism over faithfulness (cf. Matt. 23:23). They believed that as long as they went through the form they merited their salvation. Paul begins speaking directly to the issues being confronted by the Jewish converts in Romans 2 and continues through Romans 11 (cf. Rom. 2:1, 3, 17; 9:1-4; 10:1-2). Failing to recognize the context and claiming that Paul is teaching faith only salvation brings Paul into contradiction with James (Jas. 2:17). John Calvin was so convinced of the false doctrine of faith only salvation that he said James was not an inspired book of the Bible. He could not reconcile the supposed contradiction between Paul and James so he was brought to the point of having to throw out a book of the Bible! Instead of properly understanding the contextual setting, he wanted to hold to his man-made doctrine and so was faced with irreconcilable contradictions. There is no contradiction between Paul and James when one understands that they are talking about two different kinds of works. Paul is talking about meritorious works, which is the wrong notion that salvation can be earned, and James is talking about works of faith, without which salvation is not possible. It never ceases to amaze me how denominationalists will go to a book that begins and ends with Paul’s statement that his work was to produce obedience to the faith (Rom. 1:5; 16:26), and say that it teaches faith only salvation.
Again, Philippians 3:9 is another example of a passage being taken out of its immediate context to teach something that the passage does not say. If you read the context prior to Phil. 3:9 Paul is talking about the same Jewish problem he was addressing in Romans. They believed that God owed them salvation because of their lineage (Phil. 3:2-6). He says he gave up all this reliance on his lineage and heritage to live according to the righteousness that is through faith (Phil. 3:7-11). The righteousness that is through faith is the Christian lifestyle directed by the word of God, the faith (Jude 3). How does that passage teach that salvation is solely by faith? It doesn’t!
It looks like we have a very clear pattern here with the passages Mr. Georgeff uses in an attempt to wrongly say the Bible teaches salvation is solely by faith. The context of every single one of those passages is dealing with the Jewish problem of emphasizing form over faith, i.e. meritorious works. Notice the context of Galatians 2:16. Paul is referring to the time he had to rebuke Peter for hypocrisy when he refused to eat with Gentiles whenever there were Jews present (Gal. 2:11-13). Paul was constantly having to confront Judaizers in his work. They caused him no small amount of trouble. They were going around teaching the Gentile converts that they had to keep the law of Moses as Christians (Col. 2:16-17). But Paul never taught the false doctrine of faith only salvation.
I will deal with the remainder of Mr. Georgeff’s letter in another post.
I have researched this “eis in Acts 2:38″ question a lot. Is there a reason why nobody seems to notice Peter’s words at the end of the verse ” AND YOU WILL receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (NASB)? The words “and you will” (l?mpsesthe in Greek) seem to make it very clear that the crowd had not had the gift of the Holy Spirit and that Peter was telling the crowd what to do in order to get the Holy Spirit.
Jesus is the Saviour. Jesus never baptized anyone ( John 4:2 ) If baptism saved, then Jesus saved no one because He baptized no one.
There is no record of the Apostles being baptized, but Jesus declared them clean in John 15:3 on account of the word Jesus spoke to them.
Why do verses such as…..
John 1:12, 3:15-16, 3:36, 5:24, 6:29,
6:47, 14:6. Acts 3:19, 16:31. Romans 10:13
Galatians 3:26 Ephesians 1:7, 1:13, 2:8-9
Hebrews 10:10, Revelation 1:5, and others not mention baptism if baptism is required for salvation??
Acts 15:1 says “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved”
Peter corrects them, in verses 8-9 he says “And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith”
Purifying their hearts by faith?.. why didn’t Peter mentioned baptism??
As Paul says in Romans 10:2-3, men try to establish their own righteousness, instead of submitting themselves to the righteousness of God
And mankind is doing exactly what Peter said they would do in 2Peter 3:15-16
Salvation is by Grace through faith in Jesus Christ…period
Hi, what is the explanation for Acts 10 then? That was the only one I noticed to the other pastor’s comment you had no remark to make. In Acts 10 it clearly states that “while Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”” This shows that they received the HS before they were baptized, so if it’s necessary for them to be baptized to receive it, then why did they get it before? To think one must seems very contradictory to this passage.