Baptizo (Greek definition)

[c...@dragon.com]

In a recent post, discussion arose concerning the definition of the
Greek word baptizo. From my lexicon:

Baptizo; katabaptizo; baptismos. m: to wash (in some contexts,
possibly by dipping into water), with a view to making objects
ritually acceptable -- "to wash, to purify, washing, purification."

Baptizo: ap agoras ean may baptisontai ouk esthiousin "nor do they
eat anything that comes from the market unless they wash it" Mk 7.4.
It is also possible to understand baptisontai in Mr 7.4 as a middle
form meaning 'to wash themselves.'

katabaptizo: Se Mk 7.4 apparatus.

Baptismos: kai alla polla estin ha parelabon kratane, baptismous
potaron kai kseston kai calxion kai klinon "and they follow many other
rules which they have received such as to wash cups, pots, copper
bowls and beds" Mk 7.4

There is some doubt as the the precise extent to which baptizo,
katabaptizo, and baptismos in Mk 7.4 involve ritual cleansing, but the
context would seem to imply this, particularly in view of the
relationship of such washing to the rules followed by Jews in general
and Pharisees in particular.

hrantizo: to cleanse and purify by means of sprinkling -- "to
cleanse, to purify." ean may hrantisontai ouk esthiousin "if they do
not cleanse themselves, they do not eat' Mk 7.4 (apparatus).

(Here is another definition from the same lexicon):

baptizo; baptisma, tos n; baptismos, ou m: to employ water in a
religious ceremony designed to symbolize purification and initiation
on the basis of repentance -- "to baptize, baptism."

baptizo: ego ebaptisa humas hudati "I baptize you with water" Mk 1.8;
baptisthayto ekastos humon epi to onomati Iaysou Kristou "each one of
you should be baptized into the name of Jesus Christ" Ac 2.38.

baptisma: xayrusson baptisma metanoias "(John) preached the baptism
of repentance" or "...turn away from your sins and be baptized" Mk
1.4.

baptismos: metanoias apo nekrawn ergon, kai posteuos epi theon,
baptismon didacays "the turning away from useless works, believing in
God, teaching about baptisms" He 6.1-2.

According to the Didache (early second century) different forms of
baptism were practiced in the early church, but with evident
preference given to immersion.

The baptism practiced by John the Baptist would seem to reflect far
more the Jewish pattern of ritual washing than the type of baptism
employed by Christians, which constituted a symbol of initiation into
the Christian community on the basis of belief in and loyalty to Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior. There seems, however, to be no reason to
employ a different expression for baptism in the case of John than in
the case of the early Christians. Most translators actually employ a
transliterated form of the Greek term baptizo, but in some languages
this is both awkward as well as inappropriate, especiallyif another
term or expression has already been employed and is widely accepted by
groups practicing various types or forms of baptism. In some
languages, for example, one may employ an expression such as "to enter
the water" to "to undergo the ritual involving water." Such
expressions do not necessarily imply the quantity of water nor the
particular means by which water is applied.

A footnote says this: Baptizo and baptismos should not be confused in
meaning with baptizo and baptismos "to wash, to purify" (53.31). Both
sets of meanings involve purification, but only baptizo and baptismos
involve initiation into a religious community.

Finally: baptizo: (a figurative extension of meaning of baptizo "to
baptize," 53.41) to cause someone to have a highly significant
religious experience involving special manifestations of God's power
and presence -- "to baptize." autos de baptisei humas en pneumati
hagio "but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit" Mk 1.8; autos
humas baptisei en pneumati hagio kai puri "but he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit and fire" Mt 3.11.

I apologize if I've transliterated the Greek badly; mistakes are mine.

--
Sincerely,
Cindy Smith
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