The King James translation of
Acts 2:38 '...be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins...' may be inaccurate. The Greek preposition "eis", translated for, is an indefinite preposition of reference. It does not mean "in order to". If Peter had commanded the people to be baptized in order to receive the remission of sins, he would have needed to use the Greek preposition "hina", which means "in order to". But he didn't.
This preposition "eis", used about 1,800 times in the New testament in Greek, is variously translated, "for", "at", "toward", "unto", "into", etc. So it could be translated "for", as here, only in the sense of "on the basis of", or "on the grounds of."
Even in English the preposition "for" does not necessarily always mean "in order to". Often "for" means "on the basis of", or "on the grounds of". Thus one is scolded "for" being late, or arrested "for" stealing, or praised "for" beauty, or rewarded "for" bravery, or paid "for" work. It could very well mean that one is "baptized for the remission of sins," i.e., baptized for remission (aphesis, or "forgiveness") of sins already obtained when one repented.
Therefore an acceptable translation of
Acts 2:38 straight out of the Greek could read:
"Peter answered them, 'Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ
since your sins are forgiven. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift." (
Acts 2:38, ISV)
The point is that we cannot deny other valid methods of interpretation and the possible implications of those interpretations. You may choose to "believe" that sins are only forgiven at baptism...but you cannot say with absolute authority that they cannot be forgiven when one repents. I believe that the operation of the Holy Ghost strongly testifies to the idea that sins are forgiven at repentance because so many receive the Holy Ghost days, weeks, and often months before they're water baptized. I even received the Holy Ghost before I was baptized. I remember my soul being set free from the burden of sin at that altar. I was lighter than air and speakingin other tongues. I was forgiven at that very moment. When asked if I wanted to be baptized my now cleansed soul desired to obey the Word and be water baptized. Being baptized symbolically represented my being buried with Christ.
Here's the deal...I was forgiven upon repentance or God wouldn't have baptized me with the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost will not dwell in an unclean temple. If sins are strictly forgiven at baptism...nobody could receive the Holy Ghost until after baptism. We know that to be incorrect because God does otherwise.
When traditional interpretations say one thing and God does another....who do you believe?
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