One of the errors that Baptists make is to take one meaning of the Greek word baptivzw and make it the only meaning. Here is a quote from Dr. Leonard Coppes, OPC pastor and author, showing how erroneous this practice can be.
It is certain that John the Baptist preached a “baptism of repentance.”
John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Mark 1:4
This, however, does not establish by itself, the how of baptism. This is established by a few additional tests.
Mark 7:3-5says,
For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash (wash) their hands in a special way, holding the tradition of the elders. 4When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash (baptize). And there are many other things that they have received and hold, like the washing (baptism) of cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. 5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, “Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed (common) hands?”
Here we learn that the Pharisees baptized their hands and couches, but we learn this from the Greek not from the English translation. What is called “wash” (v.3) is called (baptize) in verse 4 (compare Luke 11:38). The same verse extends our understanding of baptism when we read (in the Greek) that the Jews baptized their cups, pitchers, copper vessels, and couches. By the time we get to the end of the verse it is clear that baptism cannot mean immersion.
Why conclude that it means sprinkle? Or, specifically, why do we conclude that John was baptizing people by sprinkling? We conclude this because we know from the Talmud how the Jews “washed” their hands before eating. This is indicated, although not clearly to the English reader, by the Greek of Mark 7:3 and in the words “in a special way.” Alfred Edersheim comments that this phrase describes,
… the rabbinic command that the only acceptable way to “wash” (elsewhere in the Bible rendered by Greek baptize, Luke 11:38) one’s hands was to make a “fist” by holding the fingers and thumb together and holding this fist into the air with the fingers pointed upward. A second person would then pour water over the “fists.” This water had to run off one’s wrists so that no pollution would attach itself to the hand or fingers for then the one eating would not be defiled by the residue remaining on the hands.
A somewhat small amount of water (no more than 1½ eggshells of water) was to be used. This is consistent with the biblical command in Num. 19:18ff. where Israelites are instructed to sprinkle themselves and their household items for purification from defilement.
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