May 31, 2025 • 11 mins
Is baptism essential for forgiveness—or just a symbol of what's already happened? This episode breaks down the Greek word eis in Acts 2:38 to uncover its true meaning. We explore how New Testament Greek lexicons define it and why the direction it points matters. If you’ve ever wondered what Peter really meant by “repent and be baptized…for the forgiveness of your sins,” this episode gives you a clear, biblical answer.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to the Ready for Eternity
podcast, a podcast and blog dedicated to
inquisitive Bible students exploring
biblical truths that might not be fully
explored in typical
sermons or Bible studies.
(00:20):
My name is Eddie Lawrence.
You open your Bible, read
Acts 2.38, and then pause.
Does baptism follow
forgiveness or lead to it?
One tiny word holds the key.
(00:43):
You're sitting at the kitchen table with
an open Bible and a
friend who's eager to learn.
You've just read Acts 2.38 out loud.
Repent and be baptized for the
forgiveness of your sins.
Your friend pauses and says, "I thought
baptism isn't necessary for salvation."
(01:06):
My pastor said the word "for" is a
translation of the Greek word "ice,"
which means "because of."
So, someone baptized them because God had
already forgiven their sins.
Maybe you've heard that before and maybe
you've even wondered if it's true.
After all, if the Greek word "ice," which
(01:28):
is translated "for" in Acts 2.38, really
means "because of," then Peter wasn't
saying baptism has anything to do with
receiving forgiveness. But if "ice" means
"in order to receive" or "into," then
this verse teaches
something far more serious.
(01:49):
One small word, "ice," is the centerpiece
of a debate over whether baptism is
symbolic or essential. To understand how
this tiny word affects our
interpretation, let's examine what "ice"
means in Greek and how it's
used in the New Testament.
(02:09):
Anyone who has listened to my podcast
knows that I absolutely butcher Hebrew
and Greek words. However, this is one
word I can actually pronounce. The Greek
word "ice" is spelled or transliterated
as "e-i-s" and it's pronounced "ice" as
an ice cube. So, I have no trouble
(02:29):
pronouncing that one. But this word
appears over 1,800 times in the New
Testament, and it's best understood by
examining how ancient sources used it. To
understand what this word meant in the
first century, we'll turn to "Bdag," the
most respected Greek lexicon for New
(02:52):
Testament studies. "Bdag" is named after
its editors Bauer,
Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich.
"Bdag" provides detailed definitions
based on how words were
actually used in ancient texts.
Words value it because it draws from
thousands of sources, letters,
(03:13):
inscriptions, and classical literature to
show what Greek words meant in the world
of the New Testament.
So how does "Bdag" define "ice?" The full
entry runs nearly 4,000 words or about 9
pages when pasted into a Word document.
So what follows is a
(03:34):
summarized definition.
"Bdag" lists 10 major
categories for the preposition "ice."
Most involve movement into, toward, or
resulting in something.
It can also mark time, such as until.
Though the list is extensive, covering
(03:55):
physical motion, purpose, result, and
temporal limits, the core
idea stays very consistent.
"Ice" expresses direction.
Depending on the context, it can mean
into, toward, unto, for, or until,
whether in a literal sense like walking
(04:16):
into a house or a figurative one, like
believing into Christ and being baptized
into forgiveness. "Bdag" shows that ice
always looks forward toward a goal or a
destination. It signals movement into or
toward something. This movement can be
physical, temporal, or purposeful. The
(04:39):
preposition never looks backward or
refers to a past event.
Even in time expressions, it points to
what lies ahead, not what is behind.
Thus, "ice" always carries a
forward-looking meaning.
No major Greek lexicon defines "ice" as
(05:00):
meaning "because" or pointing backward.
"Bdag," "mounts," "their," and "others"
all agree. They show "ice" usually means
into, toward, or for, always pointing
ahead. It speaks of direction, result, or
purpose. These sources do not support
(05:22):
reading "ice" as looking back or
forgiving a reason for something. While
some argue that "ice" can mean "because,"
even Bdag's earlier edition lists those
examples as controversial
and not at all definitive.
On this point, J.C. Davis in Restoration
(05:43):
Quarterly states that no standard Greek
lexicons agree that "ice" is "causal."
The standard Greek lexicons are in
agreement on the meaning of "ice" in Acts
2.38. The standard Greek lexicons give no
support for the causal use of "ice"
elsewhere in the New Testament, although
(06:03):
aren't and gingrich. In the first
edition, mention the causal use of "ice"
in Matthew 12.41, Luke 11.32, Romans
4.20, and Matthew 3.11.
They list it as controversial.
What does Davis mean by a "causal"
definition of "ice" in Acts 2.38? Causal
(06:25):
would indicate something happens because
of a prior condition, rather than
pointing forward toward a result or a
purpose. So how is "ice" used elsewhere
in the New Testament? Here are a few
examples showing that "ice" always points
forward to a result, never backward to
something already completed.
(06:47):
Matthew 26.28 "This is my blood poured
out for many for ice,
the forgiveness of sins."
So Jesus poured out His blood to bring
about forgiveness, not
because we already had forgiveness.
Matthew 28.19 "Therefore go and make
(07:07):
disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in ice, the name of the Father and the
Son and of the Holy Spirit."
So this is telling us that immersion
brings believers into full identification
with the Triune God, not
because they already were.
(07:28):
John 3.16 "Whoever believes in ice,
whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life." So we put our
trust in Jesus, not because of Him.
Instead "ice" points to a living faith
directed toward Jesus. Acts 11.18 "God
(07:50):
has granted repentance that leads to"
(And That's The Word "Ice")
"that leads to life."
So repentance moves toward life. We don't
repent because we
already have eternal life.
And we all, with unveiled face, are being
(08:11):
transformed into the same image from one
degree of glory to "ice" another. So
transformation progresses toward ever
increasing glory, not because we have
already reached the final state. And
finally, the last example we'll look at
is Galatians 3.27 "All of you who were
(08:34):
baptized into ice, Christ, have clothed
yourself with Christ." So God clothes us
with Christ when we undergo immersion,
not because we are already clothed with
Christ. So what is the inescapable
implication of "ice" in Acts 2.38? Given
(08:56):
the consistent forward-looking meaning of
"ice," Acts 2.38 clearly teaches that
baptism leads to forgiveness.
Peter's message wasn't that forgiveness
had already occurred, but it would come
through repentance and baptism, until one
repents and submits to baptism.
(09:18):
Peter says they remain unforgiven. No
major Greek lexicon supports reading
"ice" in a causal sense. The idea that
"ice" means "because of" in Acts 2.38 is
not a linguistic conclusion.
It's a theological assumption imposed
upon the text. Those who argue otherwise
(09:38):
must ignore or revise how the New
Testament consistently uses the word.
If we are to be faithful to the language
and context of Peter's sermon, we must
also be faithful to its implications.
Deuteronomy is not a
symbolic afterthought.
It's the point at which one receives the
(10:00):
forgiveness of sins.
Some claim "ice" has a broader range of
meaning, and they cite a few New
Testament passages as evidence that it
can be "causal" or it can mean "because
of." In a follow-up podcast episode,
we'll examine those claims and test
whether they stand up under close
scrutiny. But for now, the evidence is
(10:23):
clear. Ice points forward, not backward.
And Acts 2.38 teaches that forgiveness
comes through repentance and baptism, not
before it. Thanks for listening to the
podcast. We hope this episode has
deepened your understanding of Scripture.
(10:44):
If you found this content valuable,
please share it with your friends. For
more biblical studies, visit our website
at ReadyForEternity.com. That's the word
"ready," the number four, and the word
"eternity." ReadyForEternity.com. Be sure
and leave a comment on the Ready For
Eternity Facebook page or reach out on
(11:04):
Twitter. That's all for now. Keep
studying your Bible, growing closer to
God, and getting ready for
eternity. See you next time.
Welcome to the Ready for Eternity
podcast, a podcast and blog dedicated to
inquisitive Bible students exploring
biblical truths that might not be fully
explored in typical
sermons or Bible studies.
(00:20):
My name is Eddie Lawrence.
You open your Bible, read
Acts 2.38, and then pause.
Does baptism follow
forgiveness or lead to it?
One tiny word holds the key.
(00:43):
You're sitting at the kitchen table with
an open Bible and a
friend who's eager to learn.
You've just read Acts 2.38 out loud.
Repent and be baptized for the
forgiveness of your sins.
Your friend pauses and says, "I thought
baptism isn't necessary for salvation."
(01:06):
My pastor said the word "for" is a
translation of the Greek word "ice,"
which means "because of."
So, someone baptized them because God had
already forgiven their sins.
Maybe you've heard that before and maybe
you've even wondered if it's true.
After all, if the Greek word "ice," which
(01:28):
is translated "for" in Acts 2.38, really
means "because of," then Peter wasn't
saying baptism has anything to do with
receiving forgiveness. But if "ice" means
"in order to receive" or "into," then
this verse teaches
something far more serious.
(01:49):
One small word, "ice," is the centerpiece
of a debate over whether baptism is
symbolic or essential. To understand how
this tiny word affects our
interpretation, let's examine what "ice"
means in Greek and how it's
used in the New Testament.
(02:09):
Anyone who has listened to my podcast
knows that I absolutely butcher Hebrew
and Greek words. However, this is one
word I can actually pronounce. The Greek
word "ice" is spelled or transliterated
as "e-i-s" and it's pronounced "ice" as
an ice cube. So, I have no trouble
(02:29):
pronouncing that one. But this word
appears over 1,800 times in the New
Testament, and it's best understood by
examining how ancient sources used it. To
understand what this word meant in the
first century, we'll turn to "Bdag," the
most respected Greek lexicon for New
(02:52):
Testament studies. "Bdag" is named after
its editors Bauer,
Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich.
"Bdag" provides detailed definitions
based on how words were
actually used in ancient texts.
Words value it because it draws from
thousands of sources, letters,
(03:13):
inscriptions, and classical literature to
show what Greek words meant in the world
of the New Testament.
So how does "Bdag" define "ice?" The full
entry runs nearly 4,000 words or about 9
pages when pasted into a Word document.
So what follows is a
(03:34):
summarized definition.
"Bdag" lists 10 major
categories for the preposition "ice."
Most involve movement into, toward, or
resulting in something.
It can also mark time, such as until.
Though the list is extensive, covering
(03:55):
physical motion, purpose, result, and
temporal limits, the core
idea stays very consistent.
"Ice" expresses direction.
Depending on the context, it can mean
into, toward, unto, for, or until,
whether in a literal sense like walking
(04:16):
into a house or a figurative one, like
believing into Christ and being baptized
into forgiveness. "Bdag" shows that ice
always looks forward toward a goal or a
destination. It signals movement into or
toward something. This movement can be
physical, temporal, or purposeful. The
(04:39):
preposition never looks backward or
refers to a past event.
Even in time expressions, it points to
what lies ahead, not what is behind.
Thus, "ice" always carries a
forward-looking meaning.
No major Greek lexicon defines "ice" as
(05:00):
meaning "because" or pointing backward.
"Bdag," "mounts," "their," and "others"
all agree. They show "ice" usually means
into, toward, or for, always pointing
ahead. It speaks of direction, result, or
purpose. These sources do not support
(05:22):
reading "ice" as looking back or
forgiving a reason for something. While
some argue that "ice" can mean "because,"
even Bdag's earlier edition lists those
examples as controversial
and not at all definitive.
On this point, J.C. Davis in Restoration
(05:43):
Quarterly states that no standard Greek
lexicons agree that "ice" is "causal."
The standard Greek lexicons are in
agreement on the meaning of "ice" in Acts
2.38. The standard Greek lexicons give no
support for the causal use of "ice"
elsewhere in the New Testament, although
(06:03):
aren't and gingrich. In the first
edition, mention the causal use of "ice"
in Matthew 12.41, Luke 11.32, Romans
4.20, and Matthew 3.11.
They list it as controversial.
What does Davis mean by a "causal"
definition of "ice" in Acts 2.38? Causal
(06:25):
would indicate something happens because
of a prior condition, rather than
pointing forward toward a result or a
purpose. So how is "ice" used elsewhere
in the New Testament? Here are a few
examples showing that "ice" always points
forward to a result, never backward to
something already completed.
(06:47):
Matthew 26.28 "This is my blood poured
out for many for ice,
the forgiveness of sins."
So Jesus poured out His blood to bring
about forgiveness, not
because we already had forgiveness.
Matthew 28.19 "Therefore go and make
(07:07):
disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in ice, the name of the Father and the
Son and of the Holy Spirit."
So this is telling us that immersion
brings believers into full identification
with the Triune God, not
because they already were.
(07:28):
John 3.16 "Whoever believes in ice,
whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life." So we put our
trust in Jesus, not because of Him.
Instead "ice" points to a living faith
directed toward Jesus. Acts 11.18 "God
(07:50):
has granted repentance that leads to"
(And That's The Word "Ice")
"that leads to life."
So repentance moves toward life. We don't
repent because we
already have eternal life.
And we all, with unveiled face, are being
(08:11):
transformed into the same image from one
degree of glory to "ice" another. So
transformation progresses toward ever
increasing glory, not because we have
already reached the final state. And
finally, the last example we'll look at
is Galatians 3.27 "All of you who were
(08:34):
baptized into ice, Christ, have clothed
yourself with Christ." So God clothes us
with Christ when we undergo immersion,
not because we are already clothed with
Christ. So what is the inescapable
implication of "ice" in Acts 2.38? Given
(08:56):
the consistent forward-looking meaning of
"ice," Acts 2.38 clearly teaches that
baptism leads to forgiveness.
Peter's message wasn't that forgiveness
had already occurred, but it would come
through repentance and baptism, until one
repents and submits to baptism.
(09:18):
Peter says they remain unforgiven. No
major Greek lexicon supports reading
"ice" in a causal sense. The idea that
"ice" means "because of" in Acts 2.38 is
not a linguistic conclusion.
It's a theological assumption imposed
upon the text. Those who argue otherwise
(09:38):
must ignore or revise how the New
Testament consistently uses the word.
If we are to be faithful to the language
and context of Peter's sermon, we must
also be faithful to its implications.
Deuteronomy is not a
symbolic afterthought.
It's the point at which one receives the
(10:00):
forgiveness of sins.
Some claim "ice" has a broader range of
meaning, and they cite a few New
Testament passages as evidence that it
can be "causal" or it can mean "because
of." In a follow-up podcast episode,
we'll examine those claims and test
whether they stand up under close
scrutiny. But for now, the evidence is
(10:23):
clear. Ice points forward, not backward.
And Acts 2.38 teaches that forgiveness
comes through repentance and baptism, not
before it. Thanks for listening to the
podcast. We hope this episode has
deepened your understanding of Scripture.
(10:44):
If you found this content valuable,
please share it with your friends. For
more biblical studies, visit our website
at ReadyForEternity.com. That's the word
"ready," the number four, and the word
"eternity." ReadyForEternity.com. Be sure
and leave a comment on the Ready For
Eternity Facebook page or reach out on
(11:04):
Twitter. That's all for now. Keep
studying your Bible, growing closer to
God, and getting ready for
eternity. See you next time.
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