Baptism

"Baptized" and "Baptizing" redirect here. For the denomination, see Baptists. For all other uses, see Baptism (disambiguation) and Baptist (disambiguation).

A baptism by immersion in the Jordan River.
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Baptism (from Koinē Greek: βάπτισμα, romanized: váptisma, lit. 'immersion, dipping in water')[1] is a Christian sacrament of initiation almost invariably with the use of water.[2][3] It may be performed by sprinkling or pouring water on the head, or by immersing in water either partially or completely, traditionally three times, once for each person of the Trinity.[4][5][6] The synoptic gospels recount that John the Baptist baptised Jesus.[7][8][9][10] Baptism is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. Baptism according to the Trinitarian formula, which is done in most mainstream Christian denominations, is seen as being a basis for Christian ecumenism, the concept of unity amongst Christians.[11][12][13] Baptism is also called christening,[14][15] although some reserve the word "christening" for the baptism of infants.[16] In certain Christian denominations, such as the Catholic Churches, Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Assyrian Church of the East, and Lutheran Churches, baptism is the door to church membership, with candidates taking baptismal vows.[17][18] It has also given its name to the Baptist churches and denominations.

Certain schools of Christian thought (such as Catholic and Lutheran theology) regard baptism as necessary for salvation, but some writers, such as Huldrych Zwingli (1484–1531), have denied its necessity.[19] Though water baptism is extremely common among Christian denominations, some, such as Quakers and The Salvation Army, do not practice water baptism at all.[20] Among denominations that practice baptism, differences occur in the manner and mode of baptizing and in the understanding of the significance of the rite. Most Christians baptize using the trinitarian formula "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit"[21] (following the Great Commission), but Oneness Pentecostals baptize using Jesus' name only.[22] The majority of Christians baptize infants;[a] many others, such as Baptist Churches, regard only believer's baptism as true baptism.[23] In certain denominations, such as the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches, the individual being baptized receives a cross necklace that is worn for the rest of their life, inspired by the Sixth Ecumenical Council (Synod) of Constantinople.[24][25]

Outside of Christianity, Mandaeans undergo repeated baptism for purification instead of initiation.[26] They consider John the Baptist to be their greatest prophet and name all rivers yardena after the River Jordan.[26][27][28]: 45 

The term baptism has also been used metaphorically to refer to any ceremony, trial, or experience by which a person is initiated, purified, or given a name.[29] Martyrdom was identified early in Christian church history as "baptism by blood", enabling the salvation of martyrs who had not been baptized by water. Later, the Catholic Church identified a baptism of desire, by which those preparing for baptism who die before actually receiving the sacrament are considered saved.[30] In the Methodist tradition, Baptism with the Holy Spirit, has referred to the second work of grace, entire sanctification; in Pentecostalism, the term Baptism with the Holy Spirit is identified with speaking in tongues.[31]

  1. ^ "baptize (v.)". Online Etymology Dictionary. Douglas Harper of the LNP Media Group. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  2. ^ "Baptism". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  3. ^ "Lumen gentium". www.vatican.va. p. 28. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference McKim2014 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Hale, Tom; Thorson, Steve (2012). Applied New Testament Bible Commentary. David C. Cook. ISBN 978-1-4347-6642-7. There are three main methods of baptism: immersion, sprinkling, and pouring. In most churches sprinkling or pouring of water on the head of the recipient is practiced. If infants are baptized, sprinkling or pouring is usually used, although infant immersion has been practiced in the past. For adults, all three methods have been used. Very ill adults or those in unfavorable habitats of the world, such as deserts and ice-locked lands, usually do not receive baptism by immersion. However, in one place or another, all three methods have been practiced since the days of the early church.
  6. ^ "On Triple Immersion Baptism". Classical Christianity. February 22, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  7. ^ Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:9–10, Luke 3:21
  8. ^ Powell, Mark Allen (2005). Jesus as a figure in history: how modern historians view the man from Galilee (7th pr. ed.). Louisville: Knox. p. 47. ISBN 0-664-25703-8.
  9. ^ Harrington, Daniel J. (1991). The Gospel of Matthew. Collegeville, MI: Liturgical Press. p. 63. ISBN 0-8146-5803-2.
  10. ^ Lopez, Kathryn Muller Lopez; et al. (2010). Christianity: a biblical, historical, and theological guide for students (1st ed.). Macon, GA: Mercer University Press. pp. 95–96. ISBN 978-0-88146-204-3.
  11. ^ Pizzey, Antonia (2019). Receptive Ecumenism and the Renewal of the Ecumenical Movement: The Path of Ecclesial Conversion. Brill Academic Publishers. p. 131. ISBN 978-90-04-39780-4. Baptism into Christ unites all Christians, despite ther divisions. It is relationship with Christ through baptism, which enables relationship with other Christians. According to Congar, "on the basis of the baptism which incorporates us into Christ and the Word which is our Christian norm, [ecumenism's] aim is to carry out the will and the prayer of Christ, which is that his disciples should be united." The Christological foundation of Spiritual Ecumenism affirms that ecumenism is not our idea or goal, but rather Christ's will and prayer for us. Moreover, Christian unity already exists to some extent among all baptised Christians because of their relationship with Christ. Only through Christ is ecumenism possible. Kasper explains that Spiritual Ecumenism's fundamental Christological basis means that any ecumenical spirituality "will also be a sacramental spirituality." Baptism is "therefore a basic element of ecumenical spirituality."
  12. ^ "Becoming a Christian: The Ecumenical Implications of Our Common Baptism". World Council of Churches. January 24, 1997. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  13. ^ Karttunen, Tomi (June 27, 2023). "Towards Unity in Baptism: Exploring the Current State and Future Possibilities of Ecumenical Recognition". Khazanah Theologia. 5 (2): 109–18. doi:10.15575/kt.v5i2.20036. ISSN 2715-9701.
  14. ^ Faelli, Rita (2006). Christianity: History, Beliefs, Worship and Celebrations. Blake Education. p. 23. ISBN 9781741641011.
  15. ^ "Church of England: Weddings, Baptisms & Funerals". Anglican.
  16. ^ Wootten, Pat (2002). Christianity. Heinemann. p. xiv. ISBN 978-0435336349.
  17. ^ Hammett, John S. (2019). Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches: A Contemporary Ecclesiology. Kregel Academic. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-8254-4511-8.
  18. ^ Haithcox, H. C. (1881). "The Church, Visible and Invisible". The Lutheran Quarterly. Vol. XI. H. C. Neinstedt. p. 503.
  19. ^ Cross, Frank Leslie; Elizabeth A. Livingstone (2005). "Baptism". The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 151–54. ISBN 0-19-280290-9. OCLC 58998735.
  20. ^ Cross, Anthony R. (2012). Recovering the Evangelical Sacrament: Baptisma Semper Reformandum. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN 978-1-62032-809-5.
  21. ^ "Rite for the Baptism of One Child". Catholic liturghy. Archived from the original on July 27, 2018. Retrieved May 21, 2013.
  22. ^ Paul F. Bradshaw (2013). New SCM Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship. Hymns Ancient and Modern. p. 51. ISBN 978-0-334-04932-6.
  23. ^ Vandiver, Dallas W. (2021). Who Can Take the Lord's Supper?: A Biblical-Theological Argument for Close Communion. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 289. ISBN 978-1-6667-0313-9.
  24. ^ Samaan, Moses (August 25, 2010). "Who wears the Cross and when?". Coptic Orthodox Diocese of Los Angeles, Southern California, and Hawaii. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  25. ^ Konstantopoulos, George D. (September 18, 2017). "All Orthodox Christians are Given a Cross Following Their Baptism to Wear for Life". St. Andrew Greek Orthodox Church. Archived from the original on July 22, 2018. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  26. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference McGrath was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  27. ^ Rudolph, Kurt (1977). "Mandaeism". In Moore, Albert C. (ed.). Iconography of Religions: An Introduction. Vol. 21. Chris Robertson. ISBN 9780800604882.
  28. ^ Brikhah S. Nasoraia (2012). "Sacred Text and Esoteric Praxis in Sabian Mandaean Religion" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022.
  29. ^ Pickett, Joseph P, ed. (2000). "baptism". The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (4th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-82517-2. Archived from the original on August 24, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
  30. ^ Scarnecchia, D. Brian (2010). Bioethics, Law, and Human Life Issues: A Catholic Perspective on Marriage, Family, Contraception, Abortion, Reproductive Technology, and Death and Dying. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-7422-0.
  31. ^ "Guidelines: The UMC and the Charismatic Movement". The United Methodist Church. 2012. Archived from the original on July 31, 2019. Retrieved July 31, 2019. The Methodists were also first to coin the phrase baptism of the Holy Spirit as applied to a second and sanctifying grace (experience) of God. (Cf. John Fletcher of Madeley, Methodism's earliest formal theologian.) The Methodists meant by their "baptism" something different from the Pentecostals, but the view that this is an experience of grace separate from and after salvation was the same.


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