The Latin root baptizo means “to dip” or “to immerse,” and hence “to baptize” is derived from that verb. The term is used to characterize new Christians in the New Testament of the Bible. Define the meaning of baptism in the Hebrew Bible.
The importance of reading the Bible on a daily basis is recognized by many, but do you know how to read it? How often do you skip from one book to another, or even from one chapter to another? I have a simple idea for you if you haven’t already discovered a strategy for reading the Bible cover to cover.
There are many different kinds of stories in the Old Testament, all of which describe God’s interactions with his people. In this piece, we’ll look at who was doing the baptisms and what kinds of individuals they were. As a child, I was aware that Jesus underwent baptism, but I didn’t learn much more about baptism until I was much older.
Baptism In The Old Testament
The word “baptism” does not appear in the Old Testament. But there is no doubt that it was practiced by the Jews, and that it was regarded as an act of obedience to God’s command. It was administered by immersion in water (Genesis 17:10; Numbers 19:19; etc.), and by pouring water on the person (2 Samuel 16:13). Baptism was prescribed for different purposes, but chiefly for the purification of the body from ceremonial uncleanness (Numbers 19:9; Ezekiel 36:25), and as a symbolical acknowledgment of repentance and faith in Christ (Matthew 3:6). The rite was performed by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:11), who observed all its essential features.
Baptism in the Old Testament
Baptism is mentioned in the Bible more than 100 times, but it is not always clear what is meant by the word. In some cases, baptism is clearly a symbolic act that represents repentance and faith in Christ. But sometimes it seems to be a real immersion in water.
In the New Testament, Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize new believers in his name (Matt. 28:19). The apostles then carried out this command by baptizing people who had trusted Christ as their Savior (Acts 2:38). This was done by letting them go down into water and come up again (Acts 8:38). Paul also baptized people (Acts 9:17; 19:5; 1 Cor. 1:14-17) and told them that they were washed from their sins by being immersed in water (1 Cor. 6:11).
In the Old Testament, God commanded Israel to wash themselves when they became unclean because of sin or contact with dead bodies (Exod. 30:18; Lev. 11:32-33; 15:4-6; Num. 19:13-14). The priests were required to wash themselves before entering the tabernacle for service because of their contact with
The principle of baptism is not new. In fact, it was a common practice in the Old Testament.
The first mention of baptism in the Bible occurs in Genesis 17. After God promised to make Abraham’s descendants into a great nation, He also made this covenant: “I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you” (Genesis 17:7).
In order for God to fulfill this promise, He had to set apart His people as His own. In order for them to be a light to the nations, they had to be separated from those nations. This is why God commanded circumcision: “Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe” (Deuteronomy 10:16-17).
When Moses asked why he should circumcise his son if he was only going to live in Egypt where there were many uncircumcised people living around him (Exodus 4:25-26), God answered that just as
It is a mistake to think that the Old Testament does not teach about baptism because it does not use the word. The Bible does not need to use a word to teach about a subject. The Bible does not use the word “trinity” either, but it teaches about it.
The New Testament teaches that Jesus was baptized (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). Jesus did not baptize people, but He was baptized in obedience to God’s command. This is why we are baptized in obedience to Christ’s example (Acts 2:38; 22:16; Romans 6:3-4).
Several Old Testament passages show us what baptism is all about without using the word “baptism.”
Isaiah 52:15-16 says, “So shall He sprinkle many nations.” This passage shows us how God will save many people when He saves His people Israel through the gospel of grace. He will sprinkle them with blood and water. His grace has been extended to all people through these two elements which are used in baptisms today (1 Peter 3:21).
Isaiah 44:3 describes salvation as putting on clothes or garments which cover our
Baptism is a sacrament of the Christian Church, by which water is used to do what all other means cannot do, namely, to forgive sins and give new birth. It is called a “sacrament,” because it is an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. “Thou hast made us a kingdom, priests unto God.” (Rev. 1:6.)
The word baptism means washing. Baptism is the washing of regeneration and the remission of sins.
Baptism was instituted by Jesus Christ, who commanded his apostles to baptize all nations in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost (Matt., xxviii: 19), to show that they were baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection; that as he had risen from the dead by his own power, so should we rise at last by virtue of his merits; that as he had entered into heaven by virtue of his own merits alone, so should we enter into heaven by virtue of his merits alone; that as he had been exalted from among men on high, so should we be exalted from among men on high; that as he had been made equal with God for evermore (Phil., ii: 6), so
Baptism in the Old Testament
Baptism in the Old Testament was a symbolic act of cleansing that was performed by immersing someone in water. It was a symbol of repentance and renewal, and it was performed to mark a new beginning.
Baptism has always been part of religion, but it only became an official part of Christianity when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. This act showed that he was willing to follow God’s plan for his life.
In the Old Testament, God told His people to be baptized. The following are examples of baptisms mentioned in the Bible:
- When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, God told him to tell them to wash their clothes before returning to Him (Exodus 19:10).
- After the Israelites had crossed over into Canaan, they were commanded to wash all their clothes (Numbers 19:19).
- The priests were also instructed to wash their clothes before serving in the Temple (Leviticus 16:4).
- After David committed adultery with Bathsheba and ordered her husband Uriah killed (2 Samuel 11), he was told by Nathan that his sin would not be forgiven unless he took action. David was instructed to go home and bathe himself, put on clean clothes, and then go back into Jerusalem where he would find mercy with God (2 Samuel 12:20-24).
Baptism in the Old Testament
The first mention of baptism in the Bible is in Genesis, when God instructs Noah to build an ark and save his family from a flood that was about to destroy the whole world. As part of this command, God tells Noah: “And you shall go into the ark, you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. Of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shall come to you to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female. Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind… Take with you seven pairs of all clean animals, the male and its mate; and a pair [of] the animals that are not clean, male and female;…to keep seed alive on earth” (Genesis 6:18-19).
In this passage we see that Noah is commanded to take seven pairs (two by two) of every clean animal into the ark—and only one pair (male and female) of unclean animals. This indicates that God intended for us to understand that there are different kinds of people: some who are saved through faith in Jesus Christ
In the Old Testament, baptism is inextricably linked with a number of other rituals. In fact, some scholars believe that there are no references to baptism as we know it today in the Old Testament.
In fact, baptism was practiced by many cultures throughout history and was not unique to Christianity. In many cases, baptism was used as a purification ritual for people who were sick or possessed by an evil spirit. In these cases, baptism was performed by immersion in water or by sprinkling water on the person’s head. As such, it would be difficult to tell whether any references to “baptism” in the Old Testament refer merely to this kind of cleansing ceremony.
In the Old Testament, baptism was part of a ritual that took place in the Hebrew community and involved washing people’s feet. It is believed that this ritual symbolized the removal of sin from the body and soul.
The ceremony was performed by priests who were in charge of purifying people before they could enter into their places of worship. The washing process was usually done by pouring water over their heads while a priest would say: “Thus he shall wash his feet because of his impurity.”
Symbols Of Baptism In The Old Testament
Baptism is not a Jewish ritual. It is a Christian ordinance that has its origins in the Old Testament.
The Greek word baptize means to “plunge” or “immerse.” The Greek word used in Acts 2:38 is eisapostasion, which means “baptism into Christ.” It is also used in Romans 6:3-4 where Paul says that we were baptized into Christ when we were united with Him by faith. Baptism symbolizes our union with Christ and our death to sin (Romans 6:2-4).
The most common symbol of baptism in the Old Testament was circumcision (Colossians 2:11). Circumcision was a sign of God’s covenant promises to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 17:9-14). Circumcision was also a sign of membership in God’s people (Exodus 12:48), something that applied only to males because only males were required to be circumcised (Genesis 17:12).
Baptism replaced circumcision as a symbol of membership in God’s people after Jesus came and died on the cross for our sins. When we are baptized, we identify with Jesus Christ and His
The old testament does not give a specific ceremony for baptism, but it does have some symbols of baptism.
The paschal lamb. The paschal lamb was an important symbol in the Hebrew religion, and it is often associated with the Passover feast. The paschal lamb was sacrificed during this feast, and the blood of the lamb was used to mark the houses of those who were saved from death during that time. This may be seen as a foreshadowing of Christ’s death on our behalf and his blood being used to wash us clean from sin.
The water of purification. This was a practice used by ancient Israelites to cleanse themselves from ceremonial impurity caused by contact with dead bodies or other causes (see Numbers 19:1-22; Leviticus 14:1-32). Some believe this practice was also used for physical cleansing as well, though this is debated among scholars.[4] In either case, the water itself would not have been considered holy or sanctifying in any way; rather, it was used because it had been consecrated by God and thus had a special significance.[5]
The washing of hands before meals. This practice appears several times in the Old Testament (Exodus
The Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) contain many symbols and types which foreshadow the Baptism of Jesus Christ. The following are some examples:
The Flood: This was God’s judgment on sinful mankind. He spared Noah and his family, who were eight in number when they entered the ark, as a sign of God’s mercy to His chosen people (Genesis 7:1-9).
The Passover Lamb: This was a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice. During the Exodus from Egypt, each family was required to sacrifice a lamb on the 10th day of Nisan (Exodus 12). This lamb was killed and its blood sprinkled on their doors so that when God struck down all the firstborn sons of Egypt, all those who were marked with blood were saved (Exodus 12:3-13).
The Feast of Tabernacles: This feast began on the 15th day of Tishri (September/October) and lasted seven days. It was a time for rejoicing after gathering in their harvest. It also reminded them that God had provided for them during their wilderness wanderings by giving them manna from heaven every day for forty years until they reached Canaan (Deuteronomy 16:13-16). This
The most notable Old Testament symbols of baptism are the flood, the crossing of the Jordan River, and the Passover.
The Flood
According to Genesis 6:5-7, God decided to destroy all life on earth because of man’s wickedness. He directed Noah to build an ark and fill it with two of all living creatures: birds, cattle and creeping things. After forty days of rain, the waters subsided and Noah released a dove from the ark, followed by a raven, which returned to him covered in mud. Finally, he sent out a dove again, but this time it did not come back at all. Seeing that land was near, Noah left the ark and offered burnt offerings to God.
This story is often read as an allegory for baptism—the waters represent sin while they cover the earth; God is pleased with Noah’s sacrifice; Noah leaves the ark and enters a new world cleansed by water but still stained by sin; he offers a sacrifice to God as his thanksgiving for redemption; finally, like Jesus after his resurrection, Noah offers himself as a sacrifice for others (Genesis 8:20).
In the Old Testament, baptism was called “circumcision of the heart.”
In Mark 10:38-39, Jesus said, “What good is it if you gain the whole world, yet forfeit your soul?… Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”
The early church leaders believed that the Christian life was one of dying to oneself in order to live for Christ. Baptism became a symbol of this dying to self and rising with Christ. Through baptism we are united in Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5).
In Titus 3:5-6 Paul writes, “God saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).
This passage refers to baptism as a spiritual cleansing that takes place after repentance from sin. The Greek word translated “washed” means “to wash off dirt.”