The origins of immersion practices in the early believing community were firmly rooted in the Judaism of the Second Temple Period.
The instructions in the Jewish Didache are no exception. The closest Jewish parallel to the immersion of new Gentile believers into Messiah is the Jewish practice of proselyte immersion. While Jewish law required a convert to Judaism to be circumcised and, when the Temple was still standing, to offer a sacrifice, undergoing immersion was the key turning point in the proselyte process. Therefore, proselyte immersion becomes the natural backdrop for the immersion of Gentiles who were entering the Messianic Community.
Jewish proselyte immersion was to be done in "living water " (mayim chayim) which meant natural, flowing water. But it could also be done in a (mikvah) a specialty designed ritual bath that collected rain water.
The Didache falls in line with these prescriptions by requiring immersion to be done in "living water" although it makes concessions for its Gentile audience by listing a series of other options. "Immerse in other water" Didache 7.2 very likely refers to the waters of the mikvah. The halachah of the Didache 7 can serve as a model for the immersion of new Gentile believers into Messiah today.
Immerse in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Didache 7.1)
If you do not have living water, immerse in other water. (Didache 7.2)
If you cannot immerse in cold water, then immerse in warm water. (Didache 7.2)
But if you do not have either in sufficient quantity to immerse, pour water on the head three times in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Didache 7.3)
Prior to the immersion, the one performing the immersion and the one being immersed should fast beforehand, and also any others if they can. Require the one being immersed to fast one or two days prior to the immersion. (Didache 7.4)
Shalom aleichem
UM Jews baptized daily
Mark 7 (KJV 1900) — 1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they
wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they
wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
wash here is baptizo
corresponding to verse 4
For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they
wash their hands oft
Note Campbell's translation
Mark 7:3 (for the Pharisees, and indeed all the Jews who observed the tradition of the elders, eat not until they have washed their hands by pouring a little water upon them: lo A Campbell
One is baptized en the Spirit by pouring
Ezek 36 which references the New covenant and regeneration and
Ezekiel 36:25–27 (KJV 1900) — 25
Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
speaks of sprinkling
As for the didache
But concerning baptism, thus baptize ye: having first recited all these precepts, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in running water;
2 but if thou hast not running water, baptize in some other water, and if thou canst not baptize in cold, in warm water;
3 but if thou hast neither,
pour water three times on the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
4 But before the baptism, let him who baptizeth and him who is baptized fast previously, and any others who may be able. And thou shalt command him who is baptized to fast one or two days before.
Charles Hoole, trans., The Didache: The Teaching of the Lord to the Gentiles through the Twelve Apostles. (WORDsearch, 1900).
it first called for being in water but stated nothing about submersion under the water. Typically one went into running water if one had it and then water was scooped up and poured
if you did not have any water you could be in, then just pour what you had
