00B.32 Chapter 25. Denominational Baptism—No. 5

XXV. Denominational Baptism No. 5 A DIAGRAM OF Acts 2:38

Because of different senses in which the word "for" is used, people become confused as to the meaning of Acts 2:38. Especially does this word give false teachers an opportunity to confuse the minds of people. The correct translation of the passage puts the word "unto" in the place of the word "for." This translation will not admit of the idea that baptism is equivalent in value to the remission of sins, or that baptism is a meritorious service. Neither will it admit of the idea that baptism is because of the remission of sins. It clearly shows that baptism leads unto or into the remission of sins. The following diagram is given in order to meet the quibble that is made by Baptists and others on this passage. Diagraming is not taught in our schools of today; in fact, it seems that grammar is not taught, at least in some schools. Diagraming was not taught when I went to school, at least not in the school I attended. But in debates in which I have had part the demand for a diagram of certain sentences has frequently been made. To meet this demand, I procured an old copy of Holbrook’s Grammar, and learned some­thing of the method of analyzing language and showing the relation of the different parts of the sentence. I am here reproducing a diagram that was published in the Gospel Advocate in 1909, with a part of the article that accompanied the diagram. This analysis was given and diagram drawn by W. H. Johns, and it was published in the issue of April 29, 1909. I reproduce it here in the hope that it may do some of the young preachers as much good as it has done me, that it may be remembered and used by them as long as it has been used by me, and that they may pass it on to another generation as it is now being passed on by me:

J. D. Webster of Moscow, Kentucky, has handed me the following by J. B. Mahan (Baptist) of Moscow: "Please give the subject of each verb, and tell which verbs are plural and which are singular, which verbs are active and which are passive." Brother Webster desires that I answer the query and give a complete analysis of the first member of the sentence. Before answering I quote from Hol­brook’s English Grammar (page 122, article 621): "Verbs have in reality no number and person, but chiefly for the sake of euphony assume different forms to agree with their subjects rather, to agree with the ear." (See "Conjugation," page 132.)

Answer: "Repent" is said to be active and plural; "be baptized" is said to be passive and singular. The position is sometimes taken that an active plural verb and a passive singular verb cannot have the same subject, neither can they be connected by the copulative conjunction "and." To take such a position is to deny the Bible, and one shows his ignorance of the English language, or else shows that he has a theory to defend, and must try to defend said theory regard­less of the rules of our language of the Bible.

Analysis: The sentence as a whole is an imperative compound sentence. The first member is an imperative simple sentence. "Ye" is the subject, "repent and be baptized" is the compound predicate. "Ye" is modified by "person" (understood); "person" (understood) you," adjectival element of the second class. "Repent" and be "bap­tized" are modified by the phrases "in name" and "for remission," both adverbial elements of the second class. "Name" is modified by "the," adjectival element of the first class, and the phrase ”OF Jesus Christ," an adj ectival element of the second class. "Remis­sion" is modified by "the," adjectival element of the first class, and by the phrase "of sins," adjectival element of the second class. "Sins" is modified by "your," a pronoun in the possessive case.

It is strange that some people seemingly cannot understand the analysis of Acts 2:38. I have an article before me in which the writer says that "one" is the subject of "be baptized," and that "one" is modified by "every." This cannot be because "every" and "one" are both pronominal adjectives. "One" is never used as a noun. (See Holbrook’s Grammar, page 87, article 448, and pages 88 and 91, articles 455-493.) As I have said above, "one" modifies "person" (understood), and "person" (understood) is in apposition with "ye." (See Holbrook’s Grammar, page 176, articles 970, 971, and remarks; also see Rigdon’s Grammar, pages 73, 74, articles 262 and 267, and be convinced.) That "ye" cannot be the subject OF both verbs, "repent" and "be baptized," cannot be sustained. (See Gospel Advocate of April 1, 1909, page 392.)