How does baptism in Paul's letters differ from baptism in the Jewish economy?
In the Jewish economy, Jesus baptizes Jews into the Holy Spirit, looking forward to Pentecost, when they are engulfed or inundated. By Paul’s letters, the operation reverses: the Holy Spirit becomes the baptizer, baptizing predominantly Gentiles and believers into Christ.
Les teaches that baptism in Scripture does not always mean water baptism. The Greek word baptizo means to be engulfed or inundated; Homer and Plato used it of ships sunk at sea. In the Jewish economy, Jesus is the baptizer, baptizing Jews into the Holy Spirit and looking forward to Pentecost. Paul refers in 2 Corinthians 10 to Israel coming out of Egypt and through the Red Sea as baptized unto Moses and unto the cloud, though they crossed on dry land; they were engulfed in Moses’ leadership and the cloud’s power and protection. By Paul’s letters, Les explains, there is a complete reversal: the Holy Spirit is now the baptizer, baptizing predominantly Gentiles and believers into Christ.