It has more than one meaning. You have chosen the ONE meaning that fits your theory:
Strong's Greek: 907. βαπτίζω (baptizó) -- to dip, sink
You can't provide any evidence from Scripture that people were immersed ONLY.
I don't have any evidence from Scripture that says dipping, making clean with water or sprinkling is how we MUST baptize.
As you know (at least I believe you do) the translation of the word
has more than one meaning therefor
you can only ASSUME that when it was translated they meant "immersion". On the flip side it also allows us to assume that they didn't mean immersion
so we are at a stalemate on that point.
What evidence do you have that anyone in the 1st Century were ONLY immersed or submerged when getting baptized?
Maybe
@Jane_Doe22 can help you out with this one
Bible Study Mary
Just a few points in asking are we fully immersed into His death...or sprinkled. Does it matter? Acts 19:2-5
[2] He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. [3] And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. [4] Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. [5] When they heard this , they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
Unto what then were you baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. —which is of men. The baptism from above is of God and is through the Son.(HIS death and resurrection.) They were baptized in the name of John’s baptism and had not received the Holy Spirit. THEN they were baptized in the name of the Lord and not in the name of John. “When they heard this , they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.” And received the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 3:11-12
[11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: [12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
“...He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit, and with Fire.”
Romans 6:4
[4] Therefore we are buried(immersed fully) with him by baptism into death(water): that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life(Spirit-Fire).
Ephesians 4:4-6
[4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; [5] One Lord, one faith,
one baptism, [6] One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
One baptism: buried(immersed fully) ...with him into death(water): that like as Christ was raised up from the dead...even so we also should walk in newness of life(Spirit-Fire). One baptism in the Lord’s name (His death unto Life)and this one baptism into death and raised unto life, being in His name from One God and Father of all. Since this one baptism comes from God in the Lord’s name and is complete...debating ‘dip’ ‘sprinkle’ or ‘submerge’ is pointless.