Incidentally, the same applies in the case of the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. So that there is no proof that Jesus was submersed, either. In fact, at His baptism He seems to have been sealed as our great Prophet and Priest and King — by being anointed with water poured upon His forehead.10
B.: But John the Baptist did baptize in the River Jordan and with “much water.”11 Surely that indicates that he necessarily submersed his converts – doesnt it?
P.: Not at all! There is no indication in Scripture that John – or any other baptizer – ever submersed anyone. In fact, there is far more indication that John the Baptist baptized by sprinkling. You see, the original Greek text does not say that John baptized people in the Jordan at Aenon near Salim because there was deep water or much water there, but “because there were many waters – hudata polla (plural) – there.” It should also be noted that the Hebrew ‘Aenon (‘ayn n) literally means ‘pure fountains or ‘springs – which rather precludes the possibility of submersion.
