Baptism

"Baptism"

Terminology:

The verb used in the New Testament is (baptizo). The substantives baptisma and baptismos occur, though the latter is not used in the New Testament of the ordinance of baptism except by implication (Hebrews 6:2, "the teaching of baptisms") where the reference is to the distinction between the Christian ordinance and the Jewish ceremonial ablutions. Some documents have it also in Colossians 2:12 (compare Hebrews 9:10, "divers washings") for a reference purely to the Jewish purification's (compare the dispute about purifying in John 3:25).

The verb baptizo appears in this sense in Luke 11:38 (margin) where the Pharisee marveled that Jesus "had not first bathed himself before breakfast" (noonday meal). The Mosaic regulations required the bath of the whole body (Leviticus 15:16) for certain uncleanness. Tertullian (de Baptismo, XV) says that the Jew required almost daily washing.

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