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; (); βάπτισμα 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 in BB. DD., McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia, Schaff-Herzog): Ephesians 4:5; Colossians 2:12 (L marginal reading Tr βαπτισμῷ which see); 1 Peter 3:21; εἰς τόν θάνατον Romans 6:4 (see βαπτίζω, II.

b. aa. at the end). (Trench, § xcix.)