Baptism

===Meaning of the Greek verb ''baptizein''===
The [[Greek-English Lexicon]] of Liddell and Scott gives the primary meaning of the verb ''baptízein'', from which the English verb "baptize" is derived, as "dip, plunge", and gives examples of plunging a sword into a throat or an embryo and for drawing wine by dipping a cup in the bowl; for New Testament usage it gives two meanings: "baptize", with which it associates the [[Septuagint]] mention of [[Naaman]] dipping himself in the [[Jordan River]], and "perform ablutions", as in Luke 11:38.<ref name="LSJ">[https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=bapti/zw Liddell & Scott: entry βαπτίζω]: "βαπτ-ίζω, A. dip, plunge, 'ξίφος εἰς σφαγήν' J.BJ2.18.4; 'σπάθιον εἰς τὸ ἔμβρυον' Sor.2.63:—Pass., of a [[trepanning|trephine]], Gal.10.447; ... 2. draw wine by dipping the cup in the bowl, Aristopho 14.5; 'φιάλαις β. ἐκ . . κρατήρων' ..." The usage examples quoted here mean "a sword into his throat"; "a sword into the foetus"; "draw with cups from bowls"</ref>

Although the Greek verb ''baptízein'' does not exclusively mean dip, plunge or immerse (it is used with literal and figurative meanings such as "sink", "disable", "overwhelm", "go under", "overborne", "draw from a bowl"),<ref name=LSJ/><ref>Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964–c1976. Vols. 5–9 edited by Gerhard Friedrich. Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin. (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (1:529–530). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.</ref> lexical sources typically cite this as a meaning of the word in both the [[Septuagint]]<ref name="Zodhiates, S. 2000">'In the Sept.: 2&nbsp;Kgs. 5:13, 14 we have loúō (3068), to bathe and baptízomai. See also {{bibleverse|Leviticus|11:25, 28, 40}}, where plúnō (4150), to wash clothes by dipping, and loúō (3068), to bathe are used. In {{bibleverse|Numbers|19:18, 19}}, báphō, to dip, and plúnō, to wash by dipping are used', Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The Complete Word Study Dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G908). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.</ref><ref name="ReferenceA">'In the LXX βάπτειν (βαπτίζειν occurs only at 4 Βασ. 5:14) as a rendering of טָבַל, "to dip," is used for the dipping of the morsel in wine at Ru. 2:14, of feet in the river at Jos. 3:15, of the finger in blood in the Torah of sacrifices at Lv. 4:6, 17 etc., of the dipping of unsanctified vessels in water in the laws of purification at Lv. 11:32 (בא hiph). In the latter case, however, πλύνω (כבס) and λούομαι (רחץ) are more common, as in Lv. 15:11, 13 etc. The sevenfold dipping of Naaman (2 K. 5:14) perhaps suggests sacramental ideas and illustrates the importance of the Jordan. In the later Jewish period טבל (b. Ber., 2b of the bathing of priests; Joma, 3, 2ff. etc.) and βαπτίζειν become tech. terms for washings to cleanse from Levitical impurity, as already in Jdt. 12:7; Gk. Sir. 31(34):30. The טְבִילָה of proselytes belongs to this context.', Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964–c1976. Vols. 5–9 edited by Gerhard Friedrich. Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin. (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (1:535). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.</ref><ref>'βαπτίζω+      V 0-1-1-0-2=4 2 Kgs 5,14; Is 21,4; Jdt 12,7; Sir 34,25 M to dip oneself 2 Kgs 5,14; to wash Jdt 12,7  ἡ ἀνομία με βαπτίζει I am imbued with transgression Is 21,4 Cf. DELLING 1970, 243–245; →NIDNTT; TWNT', Lust, J., Eynikel, E., & Hauspie, K. (2003). A Greek–English Lexicon of the Septuagint : Revised Edition. Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft: Stuttgart.</ref> and the [[New Testament]].<ref>'In Mark 7:3, the phrase "wash their hands" is the translation of níptō (3538), to wash part of the body such as the hands. In Mark 7:4 the verb wash in "except they wash" is baptízomai, to immerse. This indicates that the washing of the hands was done by immersing them in collected water. See Luke 11:38 which refers to washing one's hands before the meal, with the use of baptízomai, to have the hands baptized.', Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The Complete Word Study Dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G907). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.</ref>

"While it is true that the basic root meaning of the Greek words for baptize and baptism is immerse/immersion, it is not true that the words can simply be reduced to this meaning, as can be seen from Mark 10:38–39, Luke 12:50, Matthew 3:11 Luke 3:16 and Corinthians10:2."<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ncqkZnDSeo4C&pg=PA101 |editor-first=William A. |editor-last=Dyrness |title=Global Dictionary of Theology |publisher=Intervarsity Press |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-8308-2454-0 |page=101 |access-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref>

Two passages in the [[Gospel]]s indicate that the verb ''baptízein'' did not always indicate submersion. The first is Luke 11:38, which tells how a Pharisee, at whose house Jesus ate, "was astonished to see that he did not first wash (''ἐβαπτίσθη'', aorist passive of ''βαπτίζω''—literally, "was baptized") before dinner". This is the passage that Liddell and Scott cites as an instance of the use of ''{{lang|grc|βαπτίζω}}'' to mean ''perform ablutions''. Jesus' omission of this action is similar to that of his disciples: "Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash (''{{lang|grc|νίπτω}}'') not their hands when they eat bread".<ref>{{bibleverse|Matthew|15:1–2|KJV}}</ref> The other Gospel passage pointed to is: "The Pharisees...do not eat unless they wash (''{{lang|grc|νίπτω}}'', the ordinary word for washing) their hands thoroughly, observing the tradition of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they wash themselves (literally, "baptize themselves"—''βαπτίσωνται'', passive or middle voice of ''βαπτίζω'')".<ref>{{bibleverse|Mark|7:3–4|KJV}}</ref>

[[File:Child baptism with water.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.7|Baptism of a child by affusion]]
Scholars of various denominations<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=xewBAAAACAAJ A. A. Hodge, Outlines of Theology 1992] {{ISBN|0-85151-160-0}} {{ISBN|978-0-85151-160-3}} quoted in {{cite web|url=http://www.mbrem.com/baptism/aabap.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020126072506/http://mbrem.com/baptism/aabap.htm |archive-date=January 26, 2002 |title=The Mode of Baptism |first=Michael |last=Bremmer |date=September 7, 2001 |access-date=February 25, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first2=Bertram |last2=Naumann |year=2006 |last1=Naumann |first1=Paul |title=The Sacrament of Baptism |url=http://www.clclutheran.org/lfm/lfm12.pdf |work=Learn From Me |access-date=February 24, 2009 |publisher=[[Church of the Lutheran Confession]]| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090225041602/http://www.clclutheran.org/lfm/lfm12.pdf| archive-date= February 25, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catholic.com/library/Baptism_Immersion_Only.asp |title=Baptism: Immersion Only? |first=Robert H. |last=Brom |author-link=Robert Henry Brom |date=August 10, 2004 |publisher=[[Catholic Answers]] |access-date=February 24, 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090314053255/http://catholic.com/library/Baptism_Immersion_Only.asp| archive-date= March 14, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> claim that these two passages show that invited guests, or people returning from market, would not be expected to immerse themselves ("baptize themselves") totally in water but only to practise the partial immersion of dipping their hands in water or to pour water over them, as is the only form admitted by present Jewish custom.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |first=Bernard |last=Drachman |author-link=Bernard Drachman |author2=Kaufmann Kohler |title=Ablution |url=http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter=A&artid=338 |editor=[[Cyrus Adler]] |encyclopedia=[[Jewish Encyclopedia]]|author2-link=Kaufmann Kohler }}</ref> In the second of the two passages, it is actually the hands that are specifically identified as "washed",<ref>Mark 7:3</ref> not the entire person, for whom the verb used is ''baptízomai'', literally "be baptized", "be immersed",<ref>Mark 7:4</ref> a fact obscured by English versions that use "wash" as a translation of both verbs. Zodhiates concludes that the washing of the hands was done by immersing them.<ref name="Zodhiates">'Washing or ablution was frequently by immersion, indicated by either baptízō or níptō (3538), to wash. In Mark 7:3, the phrase 'wash their hands' is the translation of níptō (3538), to wash part of the body such as the hands. In Mark 7:4 the verb wash in 'except they wash' is baptízomai, to immerse. This indicates that the washing of the hands was done by immersing them in collected water. See Luke 11:38 which refers to washing one's hands before the meal, with the use of baptízomai, to have the hands baptized.", Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The Complete Word Study Dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G907). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.</ref> The Liddell–Scott–Jones [[Greek-English Lexicon]] (1996) cites the other passage (Luke 11:38) as an instance of the use of the verb ''baptízein'' to mean "perform ablutions", not "submerge".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=baptizw&la=greek#lexicon |title=LSJ: βαπτίζω |publisher=Perseus.tufts.edu |access-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref> References to the cleaning of vessels which use βαπτίζω also refer to immersion.<ref>'Despite assertions to the contrary, it seems that baptizō, both in Jewish and Christian contexts, normally meant "immerse", and that even when it became a technical term for baptism, the thought of immersion remains. The use of the term for cleansing vessels (as in Lev. 6:28 Aquila [cf. 6:21]; cf. baptismos in Mk. 7:4) does not prove the contrary, since vessels were normally cleansed by immersing them in water. The metaphorical uses of the term in the NT appear to take this for granted, e.g. the prophecy that the Messiah will baptise in Spirit and fire as a liquid (Matt. 3:11), the "baptism" of the Israelites in the cloud and the sea (1 Cor. 10:2), and in the idea of Jesus' death as a baptism (Mk. 10:38f. baptisma; Lk. 12:50; cf. Ysebaert, op. cit., 41 ff.).', Brown, C. (1986). Vol. 1: New international dictionary of New Testament theology (144)</ref>

As already mentioned, the lexicographical work of Zodhiates says that, in the second of these two cases,<ref>{{Bibleverse|Mark|7:4}}</ref> the verb ''baptízein'' indicates that, after coming from the market, the Pharisees washed their hands by immersing them in collected water.<ref name=Zodhiates/> Balz & Schneider understand the meaning of βαπτίζω, used in place of ῥαντίσωνται (sprinkle), to be the same as βάπτω, to dip or immerse,<ref>'Mark 7:4 [v.l. in v. 8]; here βαπτίσωνται appears in place of ῥαντίσωνται in Koine D Θ pl, giving βαπτίζω the meaning of βάπτω', Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. (1990–c1993). Exegetical dictionary of the New Testament. Translation of: Exegetisches Worterbuch zum Neuen Testament. (1:195). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans.</ref><ref>'Βάπτω dip, immerse', Balz, H. R., & Schneider, G. (1990–c1993). Exegetical dictionary of the New Testament. Translation of: Exegetisches Worterbuch zum Neuen Testament. (1:195). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Eerdmans.</ref><ref>'βάπτω; ἐμβάπτω: to dip an object in a liquid—''to dip in.'', Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (1:522). New York: United Bible societies.</ref> a verb used of the partial dipping of a morsel held in the hand into wine or of a finger into spilled blood.<ref>"In the LXX βάπτειν...is used for the dipping of the morsel in wine at Ju. 2:14, ...of the finger in blood in the Torah of sacrifices at Lv. 4:6, 17 etc.", Theological dictionary of the New Testament. 1964–c1976. Vols. 5–9 edited by Gerhard Friedrich. Vol. 10 compiled by Ronald Pitkin. (G. Kittel, G. W. Bromiley & G. Friedrich, Ed.) (electronic ed.) (1:535). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.</ref>

[[File:Baptism - Marcellinus and Peter.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Fresco of a baptism from the [[Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter]].]]
A possible additional use of the verb ''baptízein'' to relate to ritual washing is suggested by [[Peter Leithart]] (2007) who suggests that Paul's phrase "Else what shall they do who are [[baptism for the dead|baptized for the dead]]?"<ref>οἱ βαπτιζόμενοι ὑπὲρ τῶν νεκρῶν</ref> relates to Jewish ritual washing.<ref>Peter J. Leithart ''The Baptized Body'' 2007 p136 "Paul uses a distancing third person—"they" baptize for the dead. Why not "we"? Paul might well be referring to Jewish practices. Under the ceremonial laws of Torah, every washing was a washing "for the dead" (cf. Num. 19). Uncleanness was a ceremonial form of death, and through washings of various sorts the unclean dead were restored to life in fellowship with.."</ref> In Jewish Greek the verb ''baptízein'' "baptized" has a wider reference than just "baptism" and in Jewish context primarily applies to the masculine noun ''baptismós'' "ritual washing"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G909&t=KJV |title=masculine noun baptismos 4x NT uses |publisher=Blueletterbible.org |access-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref>

The verb ''baptízein'' occurs four times in the Septuagint in the context of ritual washing, ''baptismós''; Judith cleansing herself from menstrual impurity, [[Naaman]] washing seven times to be cleansed from [[leprosy]], etc.<ref>Philippe Wolff ''Baptism: The Covenant and the Family'' 2009 p45 "This word occurs but four times in the Septuagint, and in no case with the Baptist meaning. 1st. "Judith baptized herself in a fountain of water, by the camp." (Judith xii. 7.) She was then purifying herself from her uncleanness."</ref>

Additionally, in the New Testament only, the verb ''baptízein'' can also relate to the neuter noun ''báptisma'' "baptism" which is a [[neologism]] unknown in the [[Septuagint]] and other pre-Christian Jewish texts.<ref>Jonathan David Lawrence ''Washing in Water: Trajectories of Ritual Bathing in the Hebrew Bible and Second Temple Literature'' (Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2006), p294</ref>

This broadness in the meaning of ''baptízein'' is reflected in English Bibles rendering "wash", where Jewish ritual washing is meant: for example Mark 7:4 states that the Pharisees "except they wash (Greek "baptize"), they do not eat",<ref>ἐὰν μὴ βαπτίσωνται οὐκ ἐσθίουσιν</ref> and "baptize" where ''báptisma'', the new Christian rite, is intended.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bromiley |first=Geoffrey William |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wo8csizDv0gC&dq=and+%22baptize%22+where+b%C3%A1ptisma%2C+the+new+Christian+rite%2C+is+intended&pg=PA423 |title=The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia |date=1979 |publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing |isbn=978-0-8028-3781-3 |language=en}}</ref>