Baptism
From Encyclopædia
Baptism is a
sacrament of the Christian church in which candidates are immersed in water or water is poured over them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It is derived from the practice of John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus, and probably from the Jewish tebilah (a ritual
bath). Matthew 28:19 calls upon Christians to make disciples and to baptize them. In the early church, baptism was administered after a period of preparation (catechumenate), preferably at Easter. It was performed in
conjunction with the rites later called confirmation and Eucharist. The effects of baptism were believed to be union with Jesus in his death and RESURRECTION, forgiveness of sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit, membership in the church, and rebirth to new life in Christ. Some scholars believe infants were included among the candidates from the beginning; others believe that infant baptism began in the 3d century. Today BAPTISTS and DISCIPLES OF CHRIST do not practice infant baptism and do insist on immersion. Most other churches baptize infants and permit the pouring of water. A few Protestant groups, such as the Quakers (see
FRIENDS, SOCIETY OF), reject outward baptism altogether. The Christian rite is in some ways similar to rites of purification used in other religions.L. L. MitchellBibliography: Beasley-Murray, G. R., Baptism in the New Testament (1973); Eastman, A., Theodore, The Baptizing Community (1982); Fahey,
Michael, ed., Catholic
perspectives on Baptism, Eucharist, and Ministry (1986); Schmemann, Alexander, Of Water and the Spirit (1974); Wainwright, Geoffrey, Christian Initiation (1969).
