MacKnight says: “Christ submitted to be baptized, that is, to be buried under water, and to be raised out of it again, as an emblem of his future death and resurrection.” Com. Epis., Rom. 6:4.
And with these agree Campbell, Lightfoot, Whitby, Poole, Olshausen, Meyer, Alford, and many other commentators and scholars. All those whom John baptized he buried beneath the waters, and raised them up again.
much water needed
It is recorded that “John also was baptizing in Enon, near to Salim, because there was much water there” (John 3:23). Why need much water except for dipping, or burying candidates in the act of baptism?
John Calvin, the great theologian, scholar, and commentator, whom Scaliger pronounced the most learned man in Europe, says: “From the words of John (chap. 3:23) it may be inferred that baptism was administered by John and Christ, by plunging the whole body under water.” Com. on John 3:23.
Poole says: “It is apparent that both Christ and John baptized by dipping the whole body in the water, else they need not have sought places where had been a great plenty of water.” Annot. John 3:23.
Whitby says: “Because there was much water there in which their whole bodies might be dipped.” Crit. Com. John 3:23.
With these agree Bengel, Curcælleus, Adam Clarke, Geikie, Stanley, and others.
philip and the eunuch
“And they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip” (Acts 8:38). Why go down into the water, both, or either of them, if not for an immersion?