Question

What does the word baptize (baptizein) mean in Greek/ What kind of actions was it used to describe in the Old Testament? In what way are these actions of the Old Testament similar to Baptism in the New Testament?

Answer 1

The word baptize (baptizein) means to purify or cleanse by immersing or washing with water in Greek. In the Old Testament, it was used to describe a ritual of purification and repentance. Baptism in the New Testament is a symbolic act of purification and repentance.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Greek, the word for baptize, baptizein, means to purify or cleanse by immersing or washing with water. In the Old Testament, baptism was described as a ritual of purification and repentance. For example, in the book of Leviticus, priests were required to wash themselves with water before entering the sanctuary. Similarly, baptism in the New Testament is a symbolic act of purification and repentance, signifying a person's initiation into the Christian faith and their commitment to living a new life in Christ.