IS SPRINKLING THE SAME AS IMMERSION?   by steve finnell

 Do sprinkling and immersion both signify water baptism? No, they do not.

EXAMPLE: Mark 16:16 "He who believes and is baptized will be saved...(NKJV)

The word baptized use in Mark 16:16 is a transliteration from Greek to English. A transliteration means, to represent (letters or words) in the corresponding characters of another alphabet.

To translate from Greek to English means to transfer the definition of the word from Greek to English.

The word baptized in Mark 16:16 is not a translated word, it is a transliteration.

If all of the words in Mark 16:16 were translated from Greek to English, it would read, "He who has believed, and has been immersed, will be saved..."


Men decided sprinkling could be a substitute for immersion if for some reason immersion was not possible or was inconvenient. It was subsequently adopted by many believers in Christ as being the equivalent of water immersion.

If men have the authority to change immersion to sprinkling, they would have the authority to change sprinkling water to sprinkling wine, sprinkling milk, sprinkling coffee or sprinkling dirt.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.(NKJV)

Matthew 15:9 And in vain do they worship Me, Teaching for doctrines the commandments of Men." (NKJV)

The translation, Mark 16:16......and has been immersed, will be saved...

The transliteration, Mark 16:16 .....and has been baptized, will be saved.....