The word “baptism” is one of the most significant theological terms in the New Testament. It is central to Christian doctrine and practice, symbolizing initiation, cleansing, and identification with Christ. Understanding its biblical meaning requires examining both its linguistic roots and contextual usage throughout Scripture.
The Greek Word and Its Meaning
The English word “baptism” is translated from the Greek noun βάπτισμα (baptisma), derived from the verb βαπτίζω (baptizō), which literally means “to dip, immerse, or submerge.” In classical Greek, baptizō was used to describe dipping fabric in dye or a ship being submerged in water. The idea is one of complete immersion or overwhelming.
In the New Testament, baptisma came to signify a ritual washing or immersion, often with strong symbolic meaning: repentance, cleansing, or identification.
Scriptural Usage
John’s Baptism (Baptism of Repentance)
Mark 1:4 says,“John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.”
John’s baptism symbolized repentance and a preparation for the coming Messiah. It was not yet Christian baptism as practiced after Jesus’ resurrection but pointed forward to it. It was an outward confession of an inward turning toward God.
Jesus’ Baptism
Matthew 3:16 says,“After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him.”
Though sinless, Jesus was baptized to fulfill all righteousness (Matt. 3:15), identifying Himself with humanity and inaugurating His public ministry. His baptism also anticipated His future death and resurrection (cf. Luke 12:50).
Christian Baptism
Matthew 28:19 says, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Christian baptism is a command of Christ and a mark of discipleship. It signifies identification with the Triune God and symbolizes union with Christ, participation in His death, burial, and resurrection.
“Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead … so we too might walk in newness of life.”
Romans 6:3–4
Here, baptism is more than a ritual, it symbolizes the believer’s spiritual reality of dying to sin and rising to new life in Christ.
Theological Significance
- Symbol of Cleansing:
Baptism pictures the washing away of sin (Acts 22:16). It represents spiritual purification through faith in Christ, not through water itself. - Union with Christ:
It publicly declares a believer’s identification with Jesus’ death and resurrection (Romans 6:3–4; Colossians 2:12). - Entrance into the Community of Faith:
Baptism marks a believer’s initiation into the body of Christ, the Church (1 Corinthians 12:13). - A Step of Obedience:
It is an act of obedience following faith (Acts 2:38), a testimony of one’s salvation rather than the means of it.
Summary of the Word’s Meaning
| Greek Word | Transliteration | Root Verb | Literal Meaning | Theological Meaning |
| βάπτισμα | baptisma | βαπτίζω (baptizō) | To dip, immerse, submerge | The outward act symbolizing inward repentance, cleansing, and identification with Christ. |
Conclusion
In summary, the biblical concept of baptism (βάπτισμα) conveys the rich image of immersion both physically in water and spiritually in the life and death of Christ. It stands as a public confession of faith, a symbol of cleansing, and a mark of belonging to God’s covenant people. As the Apostle Peter clarifies in 1 Peter 3:21, “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Thus, baptism is not a mere ritual washing, but a faithful response to God’s saving work through Christ, an act of obedience that reflects the believer’s new identity in Him.
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