Many critics of baptismal regeneration argue that the preposition εις in
Acts 2:38 should be translated "because of" or "as a result
of" the forgiveness of sins, similar to how one would take a tablet
"for" (in the sense of due to) a migraine, not to bring about a
migraine. I discuss in some detail this issue and related topics at:
Many non-LDS commentators will readily admit that such a translation of
the passage is erroneous and reflective of one reading into the text
(eisegesis, in other words). As F.F. Bruce noted:
At times it is not
the interpretation of a passage of Scripture, but its very rendering, that
becomes a hallmark of a particular tradition. For example, when I hear Matt.
16:19 (cf. 18:18) translated “Whatever you forbid/permit on earth must be
already forbidden/permitted in heaven”, or Acts 2:38 translated “Repent and be
baptized with reference to (or even ‘on the basis of’) the forgiveness of sins”, I
have a good idea of what company I am in. (F.F. Bruce, Tradition Old and New [Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan, 1970, 1976],
15)
