Understanding the meaning of “much water” in John 3:23
Credobaptists most often will appeal to John 3 for their belief in immersion only baptism. After all they will say, “You need much water to immerse a person.” Is this what John is trying to convey.... evidence for immersion only baptism or is there something else going on in the background of John’s gospel that gives meaning to why John mentions ὕδατα πολλὰ.
From my perspective, ὕδατα πολλὰ (much water) has to be interpreted within the context of the entire Gospel.
John is an incredible observer of the environment around him, remembering vivid details of the events when he was with our Lord even at his late age in writing his gospel. In recalling minute details he is giving us a glimpse of his personality type. He observes what is going on around him, remembers, and writes of what he sees. And he writes with specific details what he remembers even in situations of great stress or trauma such as the Jesus walking on the water in John 6, or mentioning the thermal conditions when Peter was outside Caiaphas’ house, or writing about the weight of spices at the crucifixion site.
What do these little details signify for us today? If John writes about small details, we can’t miss what John observes when he describes what he saw in the empty tomb! This is the high point of John’s environmental observations recorded in his Gospel.
Here is a partial listing of his environmental observations.
There are many other observations we can make.
The point I want to make is just because John mentions “much water” in John 3, doesn’t necessarily infer depth of water. John writes what he remembers. The water could be wide and shallow or narrow and deep. John observes, remembers and writes. If we don’t attach great theological significance to any of John’s other observations in the above listing, why should we attach absolute meaning that “much water” is actual evidence of immersion only baptism? Again, we don’t object to the mode of immersion baptism, we object to the necessity of it.
To read immersion baptism into this passage an argument by conjecture, conclusive only to those who already presuppose “baptism always means immersion in the Bible."
Credobaptists most often will appeal to John 3 for their belief in immersion only baptism. After all they will say, “You need much water to immerse a person.” Is this what John is trying to convey.... evidence for immersion only baptism or is there something else going on in the background of John’s gospel that gives meaning to why John mentions ὕδατα πολλὰ.
From my perspective, ὕδατα πολλὰ (much water) has to be interpreted within the context of the entire Gospel.
John is an incredible observer of the environment around him, remembering vivid details of the events when he was with our Lord even at his late age in writing his gospel. In recalling minute details he is giving us a glimpse of his personality type. He observes what is going on around him, remembers, and writes of what he sees. And he writes with specific details what he remembers even in situations of great stress or trauma such as the Jesus walking on the water in John 6, or mentioning the thermal conditions when Peter was outside Caiaphas’ house, or writing about the weight of spices at the crucifixion site.
What do these little details signify for us today? If John writes about small details, we can’t miss what John observes when he describes what he saw in the empty tomb! This is the high point of John’s environmental observations recorded in his Gospel.
Here is a partial listing of his environmental observations.
- Quantity. In John 6, (The feeding of the 5,000) he mentions there was χόρτος πολὺς “much grass” in this area. Much grass doesn’t have any theological significance but John just describes what he sees and remembers. This is similar language as in John 3 about “much water.” He also describes amount of currency, beginning resources and ending resources. In John 21, he mentions he caught 153 fish.
John also refers to buoyancy and non-buoyancy issues in bringing a huge haul fish to shore without breaking the nets.
- Measurement of Volume: At the wedding of Cana, John mentions six stone pots, with a measure of two or three. One measure is equal to 39.39 liters or 8.75 gallons.
- Historical Chronological Sequence: In healing of the official’s son in John 4, John states that this was Jesus’ second sign or miracle. And in John 21, John mentions Jesus’ third post resurrection appearance.
- Seasonal Distinction: In John 10 in Jerusalem, John mentions it is “winter” just before Jesus states “The Father and I are one.”
- Structural or architectural observation: He states near the Sheep Gate Pool was surrounded by five covered colonnades (John 5).
- Distance: John specifies distance in John 11:38 and John 21 when he records that Jesus was 200 cubits off shore. In John 6 he mentions they were 25-30 stadia offshore.
- Specific age: In John 5, he mentions an invalid of 38 years old.
There are many other observations we can make.
The point I want to make is just because John mentions “much water” in John 3, doesn’t necessarily infer depth of water. John writes what he remembers. The water could be wide and shallow or narrow and deep. John observes, remembers and writes. If we don’t attach great theological significance to any of John’s other observations in the above listing, why should we attach absolute meaning that “much water” is actual evidence of immersion only baptism? Again, we don’t object to the mode of immersion baptism, we object to the necessity of it.
To read immersion baptism into this passage an argument by conjecture, conclusive only to those who already presuppose “baptism always means immersion in the Bible."
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