Baptism, Baptist, Baptize

"baptism," consisting of the processes of immersion, submersion and emergence (from bapto, "to dip"), is used (a) of John's "baptism," (b) of Christian "baptism," see B. below; (c) of the overwhelming afflictions and judgments to which the Lord voluntarily submitted on the cross, e.g., Luke 12:50; (d) of the sufferings His followers would experience, not of a vicarious character, but in fellowship with the sufferings of their Master. Some mss. have the word in Matthew 20:22,23; it is used in Mark 10:38,39 , with this meaning.

as distinct from baptisma (the ordinance), is used of the "ceremonial washing of articles," Mark 7:4,8 , in some texts; Hebrews 9:10; once in a general sense, Hebrews 6:2 . See WASHING.

"a baptist," is used only of John the Baptist, and only in the Synoptists, 14 times.

"to baptize," primarily a frequentative form of bapto, "to dip," was used among the Greeks to signify the dyeing of a garment, or the drawing of water by dipping a vessel into another, etc. Plutarchus uses it of the drawing of wine by dipping the cup into the bowl (Alexis, 67) and Plato, metaphorically, of being overwhelmed with questions (Euthydemus, 277 D).