"Eis"

This short article was written by Ed Boggess and appeared in the July 15, 1982 edition of the Gospel Advocate.

In Acts 2:38, the preposition translated "for" (KJV) or "unto" (ASV) is the Greek word "eis." It is characteristic of this preposition that it always points forward. Thus, Acts 2:38 says that a man repents and is baptized for the purpose of receiving remission of sins. However, this is precisely the point of contention in religious discussions with those who refuse the essentiality of baptism.

Since they cannot grant the normal meaning of "eis" in Acts 2:38 and still consistently maintain the doctrine that baptism is non-essential, they "discovered" a new meaning for the preposition which they call the "casual eis." It is argued that the "eis" in Acts 2:38 means "because of." For example, a footnote to this verse in the Ryrie Study Bible claims, "Water baptism is the outward sign of repentance and remission of sins. The remission is through faith in Christ, not through the act of baptism (for may here mean 'because of' as in Matthew 12:41)."

However, note that this manufactured meaning of Acts 2:38 does not resolve their problem, instead it multiplies their trouble. For now they must not only try to justify an invented meaning of "eis," they must also explain how remission of sin is received before repentance. If "for" is changed to "because of" then remission of sins is prior to and the cause of both repentance and baptism. However, this runs contrary to their own doctrine that one first repents, then receives remission of sins, then is baptized. The old adage, that which proves too much proves nothing at all, would certainly apply here.

Nevertheless, other highly respected scholars of that persuasion, A.T. Robertson, J.R. Mantey, have vigorously defended a casual use of "eis" in the New Testament. In spite of their best arguments, the consensus of scholarly thought rejects their position. Evidence of this is seen in the following quotation from the recently published New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology. "Can eis be retrospective, giving the cause, as well as prospective defining the purpose or result? Such a sense for eis seems unlikely in any one of the passages sometimes adduced...Liddell-Scott list no casual use of eis." (Vol. 3, p. 11187, "Prepositions and Theology in the Greek New Testament," M.J. Harris, see also p. 1208-9)

When I read this I jotted it down in the margin of my Bible and pass it on with the though others may want to do the same.