βάπτισμα

βάπτισμα — báptisma

βάπτισμα, βαπτίσματος, τό (βαπτίζω), a word peculiar to N. T. and ecclesiastical writings, immersion, submersion;

1. used tropically of calamities and afflictions with which one is quite overwhelmed: Mat 20:22 f Rec.; Mar 10:38; Luk 12:50 (see βαπτίζω, I. 3).

2. of John's baptism, that purificatory rite by which men on confessing their sins were bound to a spiritual reformation, obtained the pardon of their past sins and became qualified for the benefits of the Messiah's kingdom soon to be set up: Mat 3:7; Mat 21:25; Mar 11:30; Luk 7:29; Luk 20:4; Act 1:22; Act 10:37; Act 18:25;; βάπτισμα μετανοίας, binding to repentance (Winer's Grammar, 188 (177)), Mar 1:4; Luk 3:3; Act 13:24; Act 19:4.

3. of Christian baptism; this, according to the view of the apostles, is a rite of sacred immersion, commanded by Christ, by which men confessing their sins and professing their faith in Christ are born again by the Holy Spirit unto a new life, come into the fellowship of Christ and the church (1Co 12:13), and are made partakers of eternal salvation; (but see article in BB. DD., McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia, Schaff-Herzog): Eph 4:5; Col 2:12 (L marginal reading Tr βαπτισμῷ which see); 1Pe 3:21; εἰς τόν θάνατον Rom 6:4 (see βαπτίζω, II.

b. aa. at the end). (Trench, § xcix.)