βάπτισμα, 
-τος, 
τό, (
βαπτίζω), a word peculiar to 
N. T. and ecclesiastical writings, 
immersion, submersion;
1. used tropically of calamities and afflictions with which one is quite overwhelmed: 
Matthew 20:22f Rec.; 
Mark 10:38; 
Luke 12:50 (see 
βαπτίζω, I. 3).
2. of John's baptism, that purificatory rite by which men on confessing their sins were bound to a spiritual reformation, obtained the pardon of their past sins and became qualified for the benefits of the Messiah's kingdom soon to be set up: 
Matthew 3:7; 
Matthew 21:25; 
Mark 11:30; 
Luke 7:29; 
Luke 20:4; 
Acts 1:22; 
Acts 10:37; 
Acts 18:25; [
Acts 19:3]; 
βάπτ. 
μετανοίας, binding to repentance [Winer's Grammar, 188 (177)], 
Mark 1:4; 
Luke 3:3; 
Acts 13:24; 
Acts 19:4.
3. of Christian baptism; this, according to the view of the apostles, is a rite of sacred immersion, commanded by Christ, by which men confessing their sins and professing their faith in Christ are born again by the Holy Spirit unto a new life, come into the fellowship of Christ and the church (
1 Corinthians 12:13), and are made partakers of eternal salvation; [but see article "Baptism" in 
BB. DD., McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia, 
Schaff-Herzog]: 
Ephesians 4:5; 
Colossians 2:12 [L marginal reading Tr 
-μῷ which see]; 
1 Peter 3:21; 
εἰς τὸν θάνατον, 
Romans 6:4 (see 
βαπτίζω, II. b. aa. at the end). [Trench, § xcix.] 
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