Baptism

This page is dealing with a very difficult topic and is thus an ongoing project. For me, Baptism remains a very grey area and hence the research is ongoing.

The words used

When restricting oneself to the scripture alone, it is necessary to understand that we are restricting ourself to the written form of communication. Why is this important? Because the written form of communication is a "middleman" that conveys the message to us. This middleman however only delivers the message, he does not ensure that we read the message correctly and also does not tend to the understanding of the message he so delivers.

Hence, when we read, we should not be ignorant in what we think we understand, but need to take great care in examining exactly what the messenger is conveying and ensuring that our understanding is accurate.

Therefore, before we go into any specifics, lets summarize the particular words used surrounding this concept of baptism. We will follow the Strongs concordance references to identify those words, however will consider multiple definitions or sources when exploring the meaning thereof.

G911 - Bapto - βάπτω

This is a primary word. It is also a verb.

Per Strongs, the meaning is to whelm, that is to cover wholly with a fluid; in the New Testament however, this word according to strongs is used only in a "qualified or special" sense, namely, (literally) to moisten a part of one's person, or (by implication) to stain as with a dye.

Use of the words in general, everyday situations

When examining words and the meanings thereof, we need to look at all the situations where the word came into use. The context of these situations where the words are applied, will allow us to gain more information, another angle of understanding which we should then use while interpreting the meaning of the word.

John 13:26 - Yahushua dip's the bread in the

Jesus ^G2424 answered, ^G611 He ^G1565 it is, ^G2076 to whom ^G3739 I shall give ^G1929 a sop, ^G5596 when I ^G1473 have dipped ^G911 it. And ^G2532 when he had dipped ^G1686 the sop, ^G5596 he gave ^G1325 it to Judas ^G2455 Iscariot, ^G2469 the son of Simon. ^G4613

We all know this section very well. Yahushua dips the bread in the sauce and hands it to Judas. This follows after Yahushua said that he was troubled in spirit and that someone would betray him. The disciples were doubting, whom he would be referring to and Peter thus asked whom it is that he is speaking about. Then Yahushua answered per John13:26.

The first thing to note is that Yahushua did not simply provide the answer. Instead, he dipped the sop and then gave it to the one whom it is. The question we should ask is why does Yahushua act this way? What message is contained in his reaction?

Let's finish off the scene by having a look at what happened afterwards. It is all contained in the next verse, John 13:27

John 13:27 And ^G2532 after ^G3326 the sop ^{G5596 G5119} Satan ^G4567 entered ^G1525 into ^G1519 him. ^G1565 Then ^G3767 said ^G3004 Jesus ^G2424 unto him, ^G846 That ^G3739 thou doest, ^G4160 do ^G4160 quickly. ^G5032

What is the deal with the Water

Isa8:6

psm65:10, also note they sing in last verse

psm46:5

job5:10

Job 9:30 If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean;

Other markings

1Joh2:20 But ye have an unction (G5545) from the Holy One and ye know all things

Wash in the old testament

רחץ - rechats - H7365

Dan3:28 - the word "bathed" in Eloheem translated as "trusted".

Sir Alan Gardiner - British Egyptologist

Initiation into the Serapis cult included the rite of baptism, and Sir Alan Gardiner, the British Egyptologist, argued in the Journal of Egyptian Archaeology in 1950 that Egyptian baptism should be seen as analogous to Christian baptism, of which he commented: "In both cases a symbolic cleansing by means of water serves as initiation into a properly legitimated religious life." The cults of Serapis and Isis did not merely survive the emergence of Christianity, but in the 2nd century AD actually increased in popularity. Serapis and Christ existed side-by-side and were frequently seen as interchangeable. Some early Christians made no distinction between Christ and Serapis and frequently worshipped both, while paintings of Isis with her son Horus became identified by early Christians as portraits of Mary with her son Jesus. The rite of baptism, part of the initiation ceremony of the Serapis cult, was also adopted by the Church as part of its initiation ceremony.

In AD 134, after a visit to Alexandria, the Emperor Hadrian wrote a letter to his elderly brother-in-law, Servianus, in which he commented: "So you praise Egypt, my very dear Servianus! I know the land from top to bottom . . . In it the worshippers of Serapis are Christians, and those who call themselves Bishops of Christ pay their vows to Serapis . . . Whenever the patriarch himself comes to Egypt he is made to worship Serapis by some and Christ by others."