Baptism

===Derived nouns===
Two nouns derived from the verb ''baptízō'' (βαπτίζω) appear in the New Testament: the masculine noun ''baptismós'' (βαπτισμός) and the neuter noun ''báptisma'' (βάπτισμα):
* ''baptismós'' (βαπτισμός) refers in Mark 7:4 to a water-rite for the purpose of purification, washing, cleansing, of dishes;<ref name=Arndt>Arndt, W., Danker, F. W., & Bauer, W. (2000). A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, (3rd ed.) (165). Chicago: University of Chicago Press</ref><ref name="Friberg"/> in the same verse and in Hebrews 9:10 to Levitical cleansings of vessels or of the body;<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.) (1:545). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.</ref> and in Hebrews 6:2 perhaps also to baptism, though there it may possibly refer to washing an inanimate object.<ref name="Friberg">Friberg, T., Friberg, B., & Miller, N. F. (2000). Vol. 4: Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament. Baker's Greek New Testament Library (87). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Baker Books.</ref> According to [[Spiros Zodhiates]] when referring merely to the cleansing of utensils ''baptismós'' (βαπτισμός) is equated with ''rhantismós'' (ῥαντισμός, [[aspersion|"sprinkling"]]), found only in Hebrews 12:24 and Peter 1:2, a noun used to indicate the symbolic cleansing by the Old Testament priest.<ref name=Zodhiates/>
* ''báptisma'' (βάπτισμα), which is a [[neologism]] appearing to originate in the New Testament, and probably should not be confused with the earlier Jewish concept of ''baptismós'' (βαπτισμός),<ref name="autogenerated2">Zodhiates, S. (2000, c1992, c1993). The Complete Word Study Dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.) (G908). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.</ref> Later this is found only in writings by Christians.<ref name=Arndt/> In the New Testament, it appears at least 21 times:
** 13 times with regard to the rite practised by [[John the Baptist]];<ref>{{Bibleverse|Matthew|3:7}}, {{Bibleverse|Matthew|21:25}}; {{Bibleverse|Mark|1:4}}, {{Bibleverse|Mark|11:30}}; {{Bibleverse|Luke|3:3}}, {{Bibleverse|Luke|7:29}}, {{Bibleverse|Luke|20:4}}; {{Bibleverse|Acts|1:22}}, {{Bibleverse|Acts|10:37}}, {{Bibleverse|Acts|13:24}}, {{Bibleverse|Acts|18:25}}, {{Bibleverse|Acts|19:3–4}})</ref>
** 3 times with reference to the specific Christian rite<ref>{{Bibleverse|Romans|6:4}}, {{Bibleverse|Ephesians|4:5}}, {{Bibleverse|1 Peter|3:21}}</ref> (4 times if account is taken of its use in some manuscripts of Colossians 2:12, where, however, it is most likely to have been changed from the original ''baptismós'' than vice versa);<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7N0m_JAYvxUC&pg=PA137 |first=Outi |last=Leppä |title=The Making of Colossians |publisher=Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht |year=2005 |isbn=978-3-525-53629-2 |page=137 |access-date=April 13, 2014}}</ref>
** 5 times in a metaphorical sense.<ref>{{Bibleverse|Matthew|20:22–23}}, {{Bibleverse|Mark|10:38–39}}, {{Bibleverse|Luke|12:50}}</ref>
* Manuscript variation: In Colossians, some manuscripts have neuter noun ''báptisma'' (βάπτισμα), but some have masculine noun ''baptismós'' (βαπτισμός), and this is the reading given in modern critical editions of the New Testament.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seite nicht gefunden :: bibelwissenschaft.de |url=https://www.bibelwissenschaft.de/de/404-seite-nicht-gefunden/ |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=www.bibelwissenschaft.de |edition=27th}}</ref> If this reading is correct, then this is the only New Testament instance in which ''baptismós'' (βαπτισμός) is clearly used of Christian baptism, rather than of a generic washing, unless the opinion of some is correct that Hebrews 6:2 may also refer to Christian baptism.<ref name="Friberg"/>
* The feminine noun ''baptisis'',<ref>[[LSJ]] {{cite web| url = https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/morph?l=ba%2Fptisin&la=greek&prior=th\n#Perseus:text:1999.04.0057:entry=ba/ptisis-contents| title = baptisis}}</ref> along with the masculine noun ''baptismós''<ref>[[LSJ]] {{cite web| url = https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0057%3Aentry%3Dbaptismo%2Fs| title = baptismos}}</ref> both occur in Josephus' Antiquities (J. AJ 18.5.2) relating to the murder of John the Baptist by Herod.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flavius Josephus, Antiquitates Judaicae, *ta/de e)/nestin e)n th={{!}} ih tw=n *)iwsh/pou i(storiw=n th=s *)ioudai+kh=s a)rxaiologi/as., Whiston chapter 5, Whiston section 2 |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:abo:tlg,0526,001:18:5:2&lang=original |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Whiston chapter 5, Whiston section 2 |url=https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.01.0146:book=18:whiston%20chapter=5:whiston%20section=2 |access-date=2023-05-02 |website=www.perseus.tufts.edu}}</ref> This feminine form is not used elsewhere by Josephus, nor in the New Testament.<ref>James D. G. Dunn ''Jesus remembered'' 2003 p256</ref>