J. W. Willmarth, a Baptist Preacher, on "For" in
Acts 2:38
"For" the Remission of Sins
There is much controversy in the religious world today over the meaning of
Peter's answer to their question, and especially over the phrase "for
(unto, ASV) the remission of sins." Those who deny that baptism is
essential to salvation try to interpret those words to mean that they were
baptized "because of" the remission of sins--that they were saved
before baptism. Let us now look at this passage.
The word "for" in Acts 2:38 comes from the Greek word "eis".
Mr. Joseph Henry Thayer, the noted Greek scholar, says it is, "a Prep.
governing the Accusative, and denoting entrance into, or direction and limit;
into, to, towards, for, among." (Thayer's Lexicon, page 183)
J. W. Willmarth was a reputable Baptist preacher, scholar, and writer.
For many years, he edited the Baptist Quarterly. In 1877, he wrote
a series of lessons of "Baptism and Remission." His teaching on
the importance of baptism was very much opposed to the common position of
Baptists then--and those of today--yet he taught the truth on the subject.
I would like now to quote some of his statements:
"A remarkable example of the use of "eis" to denote the
purpose of actions, and that, too, in connection with the Remission of sins,
occurs in Matthew 26:28. Instituting the Holy Communion, our Lord said, in
giving the cup to his disciples, 'Drink ye all of it. For this is my blood
of the new Covenant, which is shed for ("peri" in behalf of)
many, for ("eis" in order to) remission of sins.' Eis
here expresses the purpose, not of the Jews in murdering our Saviour, but of
Jesus himself, in 'laying down his life.' He 'gave his life a ransom
for many.' The remission of sins was the end toward which his action was
directed, so for as this statement is concerned. In that end the act
terminated, the purpose was accomplished.
"With this example in mind let us examine Acts
2:38. Peter had just been charging home upon the consciences of his Jewish
hearers the enormous guilt which they had incurred by rejecting and murdering the
Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit, in his converting power, accompanied the
word. Very many, pricked in their heart, or more properly, pierced in the heart,
cried out: 'Men and brethren, what shall we do? Peter, answering these
perishing and self-condemned sinners, replied: 'Repent and be each one of you
baptized upon the name of Jesus Christ for (eis) remission of sins.
"What is the force of eis here?
"These words are Peter's answer to unsaved, but
awakened sinners, forced by pungent conviction of guilt and danger to ask, what
shall we do? i.e., of course, do in order to secure forgiveness of their
great sin. It is natural to suppose that Peter told them what to do in
order to secure that end. And he uses the very same phrase used in Matthew
26:28, unto remission of sins. Is it possible to doubt that eis
here marks the relation of certain actions to the end sought and purposed,
namely the remission of sins?
"If Peter had meant in order to declare or
profess remission, he would have said so. As he did not, what right
have we to insert here a word or an idea of which there is not the slightest
trace in his language? It is true that eis is sometimes
equivalent to 'with reference to' but then it would here mean the reference of
purpose or aim. 'In order to declare (or symbolize)' would be a monstrous
translation of eis; and if it ever means 'with reference to' a past
event, we have fail to find an example.
"It is our business, simply and honestly, to
ascertain the exact meaning of the inspired originals, as the sacred penmen
intended to convey it to the mind of the contemporary reader. Away with
the question - 'What ought Peter to have said in the interest of
orthodoxy?' the real question is, What did Peter say, and what did
he mean, when he spoke on the Day of Pentecost, under the inspiration of the
Holy Spirit?
"Acts 2:38 is a very important passage--the
key-note of the New Testament teaching as to obedience to the Gospel. For
the first time inquiring sinners throng the inspired Twelve with the question,
What shall we do? on their lips; and the answer is invested with the great
significance of the first formal direction given by the apostles to
inquirers. The occasion is striking and wonderful; and here we may well
believe was furnished a precedent which all the primitive preachers of the
Gospel were sure substantially to follow. This much is clear from the
passage before us: that there is a relation between Baptism and Remission;
and such a relation as warranted and required Peter to use the language which he
did. He meant what he said." (From Baptist Quarterly, July, 1877.)
Yes,
the people on Pentecost were baptized "for" (in order to) the
remission of sins. The word does not mean "because of" and is
never so translated by the scholars of the world.
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