Thursday, May 28, 2020

J.R. Dummelow’s Affirmation of Baptismal Regeneration

In some of the key texts relating to baptismal regeneration, J.R. Dummelow, in his A Commentary on the Holy Bible (London: Macmillan and Co., 1909) affirmed that water baptism is the instrumental means of regeneration (not the mere act of baptism, but the Holy Spirit working through the instrumental meanings of water baptism—I say this as many have a caricature-like understanding of this doctrine). Note the following:

 

John 3:3-5

 

5. Of water and of the Spirit] Our Lord again insists that a new birth is necessary, and explains that it must be an inward and spiritual one. It must not be only of ‘water,’ i.e. the reception of the outward rite o baptism without proper appreciation for what membership of Christ’s Kingdom involves, but also of ‘the Spirit,’ i.e. Nicodemus must approach Christ’s baptism with such sincerity of repentance and faith, and such earnest resolution to live up to the ideals of the new Kingdom, that in his case the outward rite will be accompanied by an effusion of the Spirit, that will make his baptism a real ‘new birth of water and of the Spirit.’

 

Baptism is again spoken of as a ‘new birth’ by St. Paul—‘according to his mercy he saved us by (RV ‘through’) the washing (RM ‘laver,’ i.e. bath) of regeneration (or ‘new birth’) and renewing of the Holy Ghost’ (Tit 35). (p. 779)

 

Elsewhere, Dummelow affirms that, in John 3:3-5, Jesus associates “new birth” with baptism:

 

The phrase ‘new birth’ or ‘regeneration’ here applied by our Lord to Christian baptism was not a new one. (Ibid., 779)

 

Acts 2:38

 

The remission of sins] one of the principal benefits of Holy Baptism, when the ordinance is rightly received (2216; cp. 1046, 47 1338 Heb 1022; also 1 Cor 611 Eph 525, 26). (pp. 821-22)

 

Gal 3:27

 

27. Baptized into Christ] entered by baptism into the relation of fellowship with Christ. The argument is: Baptism means union with Christ, and union with Christ means the liberty of sonship to God. (p. 952)

 

Eph 5:26

 

26. Washing of water] Christian baptism, with perhaps a reference to the bride’s bath before marriage. By the word] RV ‘with the word,’ to be taken with ‘the washing of water’ and meaning the baptismal formula. (p. 965)

 

Titus 3:5

 

5. By the washing of regeneration] For ‘washing,’ ‘laver’ (i.e. place where the washing took place) is better. Baptism is referred to here. Renewing of the Holy Ghost’ The baptism to be efficient must be both by water and by the Spirit. It is not a mere outward act. (p. 1008)

 

Further Reading