2. The material of baptism.
The fact that the old theologians speak of a matter of baptism and understand by it water and the application of water is not a bad modus docendi.1030) However, water belongs to baptism, because the Scriptures do not mention any other "element" with which baptism could also be performed. If another liquid is substituted for water, this makes baptism uncertain, and the person thus "baptized" is to be regarded as not baptized.1031) What the
1029) Smalc. Art., p. 319. [Trigl. 491, Smalc. Art., Part III, Art. IV]
1030) Baier III, 443.
1031) The further execution in Walther's Pastorale, p. 113 ff. Cf. Luther's and Bugenhagen's expert opinion on a baptism performed without water, St. L. X, 2128 ff: "She" (the midwife who had performed the "baptism") "says: 'I baptized without water, with the Word of God alone, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.' For now, this is a mocking lie: 'I have baptized', and yet says: 'without water'. The little word 'baptize' brings water with it, because it means to bathe or to immerse or to make wet with water. Christ commanded us to baptize with water, Joh. 3:5: Eph. 5:26, as also the apostles and others baptized with water, as can be seen in the book of Acts. On the other hand, this is the lie of the devil, that she says: 'with the Word of God alone'. Word of God in baptism is Christ's command: But Christ commanded to baptize with water; therefore this supposed baptism is not with God's Word, but without God's Word, and straightway against God's Word, that is, Christ's command. Third, that it adds to such blasphemy and falsehood: "In the name of the Father," etc., is an abominable misuse of the name of God against the other commandment. Therefore let such little children, as not baptized, nor baptize unto salvation, as Christ hath besought." Beza's statement in a letter (Opp. III, p. 196; in Gerh., De bapt. § 72) that he believed he could baptize with any liquid as validly as with water in case of need is frivolous. Böhl, too, confines himself (Dogmatik, p. 553) to saying, "If at all possible," water should be used in baptism and bread and wine in the Lord's Supper. Luther (X, 2068): "If you wanted to use something other than the certain creature or named creature [scil. water] and yet use the right words: I baptize thee in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit', that would not be baptized, but would be a sham and a mockery of the sacrament, as one who willfully transgresses the order and command by which the creature is clearly named."
301 > Baptism. [English ed. ~ 256-257]
application of water involves, it can be done by immersion or sprinkling, because βαπτίζειν does not mean immersion, but any kind of washing.1032)