Baptism in the time of Christ

[shoretom]

I always thought that baptism was a Christian Rite and not a Hebrew Rite, yet John the Baptist was performing baptisms in the time of Christ. The Christian sect had not started yet. How did his baptisms fit in with the religious beliefs/practices of the times?

 

[passus]

Hi! Welcome to CAF.

The Baptism of John was not the baptism we know now. It was in anticipation of the Church’s baptism, however, there was significance to it.

You should read III, Q 38*Summa Theologiae *.

I hope that helps.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I always thought that baptism was a Christian Rite and not a Hebrew Rite, yet John the Baptist was performing baptisms in the time of Christ. The Christian sect had not started yet. How did his baptisms fit in with the religious beliefs/practices of the times?

Baptismal Rites are rooted in the Jewish faith. The Jews did not of course recognize Baptism as a Sacrament, but they had ritual washings.

 

[Cluny]

The immersion in the Mikveh (ritual bath) is still part of the conversion process of a Gentile to Judaism.

It must even be done if a Gentile baby is adopted by a Jewish family who intend to raise the baby as a Jew.

So you see that infant baptism wasn’t something cooked up by that nasty ole pope feller. It’s something that came over from Judaism.