Interpretation of Descriptions: Water and Baptism

Descriptions of Jesus and the Ethiopian eunuch going down into and coming up out of the water do not necessarily indicate that immersion was the only method of baptism. These descriptions simply indicate where the baptism took place, not exactly how it was performed. The act of Jesus coming out of the water refers to him climbing out of the Jordan River, not breaking the surface after immersion. Similarly, the eunuch and Philip were standing in water when the baptism occurred, but this does not prove immersion as early Christian art often depicted baptism with standing individuals having water poured on their heads.