Word Studies

Acts 2:38: An Inconvenient Truth Too Clear to Ignore

Inconvenient Truth

One Greek word has shaped how millions understand salvation. That word is eis. It appears over 1,700 times in the New Testament and almost always points forward—into, unto, or toward. But in Acts 2:38, some argue it means “because of.” That shift changes everything. If eis is causal, baptism follows forgiveness. If it retains its normal meaning, baptism leads to forgiveness. The difference is massive, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. It’s an inconvenient truth for those who believe baptism has nothing to do with salvation, yet the text speaks with stubborn clarity.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Baptism, Word Studies

Why Some Christians Can’t Let Acts 2:38 Mean What It Says

Acts 2:38

In the previous article, we explored the meaning of the Greek preposition eis in Acts 2:38 and found that it consistently points forward to something, never backward. According to BDAG, the leading Greek lexicon, eis in Acts 2:38 means “for forgiveness of sins, so that sins might be forgiven.”1 No major Greek lexicon defines eis as meaning “because” or pointing backward. BDAG, Mounce, Thayer, Louw-Nida, and Strong’s all agree. They show eis means into, toward, or with a view to—always pointing ahead. It speaks of direction, result, or purpose. This forward-looking sense is consistent throughout the New Testament. 

Yet some scholars argue that eis can be causal, meaning “because of,” suggesting that baptism in Acts 2:38 happened because forgiveness had already taken place. In this article, we will examine those claims. In a subsequent post, we’ll evaluate the New Testament passages often used to support that view.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Baptism, Word Studies

Acts 2:38: Baptized for Forgiveness or Because of It?

Acts 2:38

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. “But I thought baptism isn’t necessary for salvation. My pastor said the word ‘for’ is a translation of the Greek word eis, which means ‘because of.’ So, someone baptized them because God had already forgiven their sins.”

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Baptism, Word Studies

What Is a Sacrament (and Are They Even Real)?

Sacrament

What is a sacrament? Most people have heard the word, but few can define it clearly. What counts as a sacrament, and why do churches call certain rites by that name? Where did the term come from—and is it even in the Bible?

While many Christians treat sacraments as essential to church life, the concept is a post-biblical invention that emerged centuries after the inspired authors completed the New Testament. Sacraments emerged centuries later as church leaders sought to codify certain church rituals. It wasn’t until the 12th century AD that the Catholic Church formalized the seven sacraments they now recognize.2

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Misconceptions, Word Studies

What is Redemption?

Redemption

In Ephesians 1:7 Paul wrote, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” Paul emphasizes redemption in this verse, but we might miss something critically important if we’re not paying attention. Christ redeems those who are “in Him.” Just like the other blessings in this chapter, redemption doesn’t belong to a group God arbitrarily selected. Instead, God chose everyone who is in Christ. And those in Christ are those who have chosen to obey the Gospel and place their trust in Jesus.

But what exactly is this idea of redemption? What does the word actually mean? Like other “churchy” words, we hear it in sermons and Bible studies all the time—so much that we might not stop to ask what it really is.

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Posted by Eddie Lawrence in Ephesians, Word Studies