baptismos

Baptismos is a Greek term meaning a dipping or washing, and it is the root from which the English word baptism is derived. In the New Testament and broader Christian discourse, baptismos refers to the rite of baptism, the initiation of a person into the Christian community through water, and often to the theological meanings attached to that rite. The related verb baptizein means “to dip, to immerse, to wash.”

Historically, ritual washings and immersion were common in the ancient Mediterranean world. In early Christianity, baptism by immersion or pouring developed as a central rite. The New Testament describes John the Baptist administering baptismos and records Jesus’ own baptism, which became a model for Christian practice. Across later centuries, the mode and meaning of baptism varied among denominations, shaping debates about who may be baptized and how.

Practices associated with baptismos include different modes of administering the rite: immersion (full-body submersion), affusion (pouring), and aspersion (sprinkling). Many Christian traditions practice infant baptism, while others emphasize believer’s baptism, where the candidate professes faith. The form of the baptismal formula also varies, with most Western churches baptizing "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," while some groups use other formulations. The rite is commonly conducted with water and may occur in a church setting, a baptismal pool, or an outdoor body of water.

Theological significance attributed to baptismos differs by tradition. In Catholic, Orthodox, and many Protestant churches, baptism is a sacrament or essential rite that signifies cleansing from sin, rebirth, and entry into the church, sometimes understood as a conduit of grace. In other Protestant views, it is primarily a public declaration of faith and a sign rather than a means of grace. Scholarly discussions treat baptismos as a historical and linguistic category for analyzing Christian initiation practices.