The Conservative Reformation and Its Theology - Saint Mary ...

generally prefer to consider the Baptism here as metaphorical, and
immerse the live saints in sorrows.
4. Immersionists say that the radical idea of Baptizo, in its New
Testament use, is not that of washing. Luther repeatedly translates it to
wash. We will present some of these translations in contrast. Translation
on Immersionist principles: Judith xii. 8, "Judith went out and immersed
herself at a spring near the camp;" Luther: "and washed herself in the
water." Ecclesiasticus xxxiv. 25--Immersionist: "He that immerses himself
after touching a dead body;" Luther: "That washeth himself." Mark vii. 5--
Immersionist: (The Pharisees and all the Jews,) when they come from the
market, unless they immerse themselves, eat not; " Luther: "wash
themselves." Luke xi. 38--Immersionist: "That he had not immersed
himself;" Luther: "washed himself."
5. The Baptist version renders Baptistes, Immerser; Luther, always
Täuffer, Baptist.
6. Immersionists say that Bapto always properly means, to dip.
Luther translates Rev. xix. 13: "He was clothed with a vesture sprinkled
with blood."
These proofs are enough to demonstrate that, judged as a translator,
Luther was no immersionist.
But it has been urged that Luther has used taufte, where our
translators have "dipped," 2 Kings v. 14. The fact is, however, that this
verse alone is enough to dispose of the false theory. Our translators have
"dipped," it is true; but as Luther did not translate from our authorized
version, that proves nothing. That same authorized version has "dipped" in
Rev. xix. 13, where Luther has "besprenget," "sprinkled." The fact is, that
if the ravages in the German, on the part of those who are determined to
make Luther a Baptist, or an Anabaptist, against his will, are not arrested,
they will not leave a word in that language, once deemed somewhat
copious, which will express any mode of reaching the human body by
water, except by dipping; "begiessen" and "taufen" are disposed of, and
"besprengen" can be wiped out exactly as "taufen" has been. The
question, however, is worth a moment's attention, Why Luther used the
word "taufte," in 2 Kings v.