Semantic Range of BAPTIZW/BAPTISMA

Iver Larsen iver_larsen at sil.org
Sun Dec 8 01:05:06 EST 2002


> What is referred to by BAPTIZW in Acts 1.5 is called EKCEW in
> Acts 2.17, 18.  I am not suggesting that BAPTIZW and EKCEW are
> used synonymously; however, what I am suggesting is that the
> writers of the NT did not mind connecting these terms
> thematically.  This suggests to me that the basic sense of "to
> dip" had already been significantly affected by the extended
> sense of "to wash" or "to make clean".

Thanks for the clarification. Yes, I have no problem connecting thematically
EN PNEUMATI BAPTISQHSESQE hAGIWi in Acts 1:5 and EKCEW APO TOU PNEUMATOS MOU
in 2:17, but I think the thematic link is not so much BAPTIZW as it is TO
PNEUMA QEOU/hAGION.
I would rather say that BAPTIZW has a basic sense of "submerging" or
"overwhelming with", but the actual senses intended are communicated as much
from the words in the context as from the word BAPTIZW on its own. In its
religious sense, I think BAPTIZW in the NT often refers to an initiation
process (being baptized into Christ, into the Body or into a new kind of
life), which may involve a cleansing as part of it. When PNEUMA is used, it
also has the connotation of power coming down from God as well as an
anointing for service. Part of the background would be the anointing with
oil of prophets, priest and kings during the Old Covenant.

Iver Larsen




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