Baptism
It is well known that ablution or bathing was common in most ancient nations as a preparation for prayers and sacrifice or as expiatory of sin. In warm countries this connection is probably even closer than in colder climates; and hence the frequency of ablution in the religious rites throughout the East. Baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost is the rite or ordinance by which persons are admitted into the Church of Christ. It is the public profession of faith and discipleship.
Baptism signifies—
A confession of faith in Christ; A cleansing or washing of the soul from sin; A death to sin and a new life in righteousness. The mode and subjects of baptism being much-controverted subjects, each one can best study them in the works devoted to those questions. The command to baptize was co-extensive with the command to preach the gospel. All nations were to be evangelized; and they were to be made disciples, admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion, by baptism.
(Matthew 28:19) It appears to have been a kind of transition from the Jewish baptism to the Christian. The distinction between John’s baptism and Christian baptism appears in the case of Apollos, (Acts 18:26,27) and of the disciples at Ephesus mentioned (Acts 19:1-6) We cannot but draw from this history the inference that in Christian baptism there was a deeper spiritual significance.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible on Baptism
L Tkrminoloot. 00 In the LXZ. (h) In the NT. H. OT Types. (a) The Clond and the Sea (St. Faiil> (d) The Deluge (St. Peter). (c) Other Types (Patristic). m. Pabtial Akticipationb. (a) Proselyte Baptism. ({') John's Baptism. IT. Thk Histohv of CHRisnAS BAPnBM. ('i) The Institution. (h) The Recipicuta. (.) The Minister. (d) The Kite. T. The Doctrine or Cubistian Baptibm. I. Terminology.— (a) In the LXX the sininle verb Bd-FTtiv is frequent in the sense of ' dip ' | Ex 12'^, Lv 4«-" 9» H"-'*-" etc.) or 'immerse' (Job 9^'). The intensive jiaTrrLiur occurs four times : twice literally, of Naaman dipping in the Jordan (2 K 5") and of Judith bathing (12'j; once metaphorically, T) avoiiia fie /Sajrr/fei (Is 21''); and once of cere- monial washing after pollution, paimioiuvot oV4 veKpov (Sir 31 [34]''"). The usual verb for cere- monial washing is XoieaOai (Lv 14'- » l5«-w. 13. la-a l(j4. w-28 etc )^ tijg middle voice being used because the unclean person performed this cleansing for himself. The active is used of Moses washing Aaron and his sons before they exercised their ministry (Ex 29^ 40"…
Fausset's Bible Dictionary on Baptism
Baptisms in the sense of purifications were common in the Old Testament The "divers washings" (Greek "baptisms") are mentioned in Heb 9:10, and "the doctrine of baptisms," Heb 6:2. The plural" baptisms" is used in the wider sense, all purifications by water; as of the priest's hands and feet in the laver outside before entering the tabernacle, in the daily service (Exo 30:17-21); of the high priest's flesh in the holy place on the day of atonement (Lev 16:23); of persons ceremonially unclean (Leviticus 14; 15; Lev 16:26-28; Lev 17:15; Lev 22:4-6), a leper, one with an issue, one who ate that which died of itself, one who touched a dead body, the one who let go the scape-goat or buried the ashes of the red heifer, of the people before a religious festival (Exo 19:10; Joh 11:55). The high priest's consecration was threefold: by baptism, unction, and sacrifice (Exo 29:4; Exo 40:12-15; Leviticus 8). "Baptism" in the singular is used specially of the Christian rite. Jewish believers passed naturally from the Old Testament baptismal purifications, through John's transitional baptism, to Ch…
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Easton, M.G. (1893) Easton's Bible Dictionary. 3rd edn. Thomas Nelson. [Public Domain]
- Nave, O.J. (1897) Nave's Topical Bible. Topical Bible Publishing Co.. [Public Domain]
- Hastings, J. (ed.) (1909) A Dictionary of the Bible. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Smith, W. (ed.) (1884) Smith's Bible Dictionary. London: John Murray. [Public Domain]
- Fausset, A.R. (1878) Fausset's Bible Dictionary. [Public Domain]A Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopaedia