baptism
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What is baptism in Christianity?
In Christianity, baptism is a sacrament of admission to the church that signifies the washing away of past sins and the rebirth of an individual into a new life. The ritual employs water and the Trinitarian invocation: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit".
The person being baptized is wholly or partly immersed in water, water may be poured over the head, or a few drops may be sprinkled or placed on the head. Baptism brings sanctifying grace to the person being baptized and is only performed once in a person's life. The Catholic Church recognizes baptisms performed by most Christian denominations as valid.
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Why do Christians get baptized?
In Christianity, baptism serves as a sacrament of admission to the church. It involves the use of water and the Trinitarian invocation, "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit".
Through baptism, a person is regenerated and initiated into the church, as Jesus did when John the Baptist baptized him. Saint Paul taught that baptism symbolizes the death of one's former life and the emergence of a new person, which is signified by water. It is seen as the wiping away of past sins and the rebirth of the individual into a new life. The person becomes a member of the church and empowered to lead a life like Christ.
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How is a baptism usually performed?
Baptism, a sacrament of admission to Christianity, is performed with water and the Trinitarian invocation, "I baptize you: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit". The Christian churches' forms and rituals vary, but the candidate may be wholly or partly immersed in water, water may be poured (affusion) over the head, or a few drops may be sprinkled or placed (aspersion) on the head.
Most of those baptized in the early church were adult converts. By the second century, infant baptism was a common practice and remained the accepted method in the Eastern and Western churches.3 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What is the meaning of water in baptism?
In Christianity, baptism is a sacrament of admission that involves water and the Trinitarian invocation. As a natural symbol of purification, water has been used by religious people to remove ritual or moral uncleanness. The Apostle Paul likened baptismal immersion to personal sharing in the death, burial, and Resurrection of Christ. Baptism is a sacramental rebirth in the church in union with the risen Lord as its divine head. Holy water is used in baptism and to bless individuals, churches, homes, and articles of devotion.
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How do different Christian denominations practice baptism?
Baptism is a sacrament of admission to Christianity that involves the use of water and the Trinitarian invocation. Christian churches vary in their forms and rituals of baptism, but the candidate is either wholly or partly immersed in water, water is poured over the head, or a few drops are sprinkled or placed on the head.
The Roman Catholic Church understands baptism as the total annulment of past sins and the emergence of a totally innocent person. The church recognizes baptisms of non-Catholic churches as valid and accepts baptism conferred in an emergency by anyone having the use of reason with the intention of doing what the church does. The largest Christian groups that practice adult rather than infant baptism are the Baptists and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The Anabaptist reformers insisted on adult baptism after a confession of faith.
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What is the significance of baptism for a Christian’s life and faith?
In Christianity, baptism is a significant sacrament of admission and initiation into the church, symbolizing purification, regeneration, and a new life in Christ. It involves water and the Trinitarian invocation: "I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit".
Baptism signifies the washing away of past sins and the rebirth of an individual. As St. Paul taught, it represents death to a former life and the emergence of a new person empowered to live a life like Christ. The baptized individual becomes a member of the church and is incorporated into the body of Christ.
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baptism, a sacrament of admission to Christianity. The forms and rituals of the various Christian churches vary, but baptism almost invariably involves the use of water and the Trinitarian invocation, “I baptize you: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” The candidate may be wholly or partly immersed in water, the water may be poured over the head, or a few drops may be sprinkled or placed on the head.
Ritual immersion has traditionally played an important part in Judaism, as a symbol of purification (in the mikvah, a postmenstrual or ritual bath used by women) or as a symbol of consecration (in rituals of conversion, accompanied by special prayers). It was particularly significant in the rites of the Essenes. According to the Gospels, John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Although there is no actual account of the institution of baptism by Jesus, the Gospel According to Matthew portrays the risen Christ issuing the “Great Commission” to his followers: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19–20). Elsewhere in the New Testament, however, this formula is not used. Some scholars thus doubt the accuracy of the quotation in Matthew and suggest that it reflects a tradition formed by a merging of the idea of spiritual baptism (as in Acts 1:5), early baptismal rites (as in Acts 8:16), and reports of Pentecostalism after such rites (as in Acts 19:5–6).
Baptism occupied a place of great importance in the Christian community of the 1st century, but Christian scholars disagree over whether it was to be regarded as essential to the new birth and to membership in the kingdom of God or to be regarded only as an external sign or symbol of inner regeneration. The Apostle Paul likened baptismal immersion to personal sharing in the death, burial, and Resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:3–4). Although the conclusion has repeatedly been drawn from the book of Acts that a baptism in Christ’s name was current at some places during the 1st century, by the 2nd century the irreducible minimum for a valid baptism appears to have been the use of water and the invocation of the Trinity. Usually the candidate was immersed three times, but there are references to pouring as well.
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Most of those baptized in the early church were converts from Greco-Roman paganism and therefore were adults. Both the New Testament and the Church Fathers of the 2nd century make it clear that the gift of salvation belongs to children, however. Tertullian seems to have been the first to object to infant baptism, suggesting that by the 2nd century it was already a common practice. It remained the accepted method of receiving members in the Eastern and Western churches.
During the Reformation the Lutherans, Reformed, and Anglicans accepted the Catholic attitude toward infant baptism. The radical reformers, however, primarily the Anabaptists, insisted that a person must be sufficiently mature to make a profession of faith before receiving baptism. In modern times the largest Christian groups that practice adult rather than infant baptism are the Baptists and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).