Chrisitans, Baptism, what does it mean in the Greek?

Question

The new test. was written in Greek. What does the greek word baptism mean exactly?
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And after learning this why do many churches sprinkle? Just curious.

Wow Osis, I didn't know that! Interesting.

Answer 1

The Greek word means to immerse.

This can also be seen in Scripture.

John 3:23 says, "Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized." Only immersion requires "much water".

Baptism is described as going down into the water and coming up out of the water. (Matthew 3:16-17, Acts 8:38-39) Only immersion has the one being baptized going into the water.

Also, baptism is described as a burial. (Romans 6:3-4, Colossians 2:12) Only immersion buries the one being baptized.

It's funny that the only place that people have trouble understanding baptism is in religion. If someone were to say they were "baptized in debt", would you think they had just a sprinkling of debt (a few bills)? No, someone described in this way is figuratively "covered up" with debt.

I saw a sports article that said the freshmen on a football team had an "early baptism". Of course it mean they were plunged into full sudden participation in the program. They did not just see a sprinkling of activity, but they were fully involved.

If we can understand this everywhere else, why not in religion?

Answer 2

The idea of baptism goes further back in scripture then the Greek New Testament. The first idea of baptism is actually in Hebrew traditions called a "micvah" (pronounced mick-vaah) The idea was that to prepare herself to wed after engagement a woman would take a ceremonial bath called a micwah. Since the Church is the spiritual Bride of Christ, entering into the engagement requires a spiritual micvah. Baptism is the outward prounouncement of this spiritual engagement.

Answer 3

The meaning of Baptism:

The word Baptize comes from the Greek word "BAPTO" (the New Testament was first written in Greek). The word means, "to dip, to immerse, to cover wholly (completely)." This is the meaning of the word, so three things must happen when you are baptized.

1. You must be immersed - "put down into the water."
2. You must be submerged - "totally covered by the water."
3. You must be emerged - "brought up out of the water."
Getting baptized any other way does not fulfill the meaning of the word BAPTIZE.

Answer 4

Jeanmarie, I don't think you are curious at all, but the NT writers didn't carry dictionaries around with them to give the exact meaning of "baptizw" every time they used that word. In context, the focus is not the method, it is the effect of an ingrafting into Christ as well as a profession of faith. Immersion is most definitely a wonderful symbol of death, burial, and resurrection, and it is very appropriate for most new, adult believers (excepting handicapped, fear of deep water, etc.). But that's all I'll say on the subject, there are plenty of sources you can examine if you really want to find out more on the amount of water necessary and for that matter the age one needs to be in order to be baptized.

Answer 5

the greek is baptizmo, which has several uses, but all mean to change. It is used when referring to a garment being dyed. It is one color, then "baptized" in the dye and comes out another color. It is also used when referring to a vessel being dipped in to another to draw some liquid out, like dipping a cup in to a vessel of wine. It is also used in blacksmithing when placing hot iron in to water to change the metal suddenly. It also referrs to bathing, as the other poster mentioned and is also used when referring to burying.
The main idea should not be lost: to change
Why do some sprinkle and some dunk? Preference, I guess. I know my denomination uses the dunk because of John the Baptist baptizing in the Jordan River.
But we should not argue over which is "best" The idea is that you are signifying a change in your life, a public profession of your faith. You were one way, now you are another.
That is the important part, what it signifies, not how it is done.

In response to the personal message you sent, everyone has an opinion on this. You see it one way, I see it another. No big deal.

Answer 6

In the Catholic Church, a person is either baptized by full immersion or by pouring water over the head. In the case of an infant, water is poured over the forehead to be less traumatic to the child. With older children and adults, they get their choice of being completely submerged or having water poured over the head.

Answer 7

Baptiso - to fully immerse

Answer 8

In the original language, it means to " plunge in or immerse".

Answer 9

to immerse or submerge