βάπτισμα (baptisma)
baptisma
baptism
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 21 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun baptisma refers to the result or state of immersion, distinct from the act itself (baptizo). In the New Testament, it primarily denotes a religious rite involving water, but also appears metaphorically for overwhelming affliction. Jesus uses this figurative sense when speaking of his impending suffering, describing it as a "baptism" he must undergo in Mark 10:38 and Luke 12:50.
The word distinguishes between John’s baptism of repentance and Christian baptism. John’s rite prepared people for the Messiah through confession and reformation, while Christian baptism identifies believers with Christ’s death and resurrection, as Paul explains in Romans 6:4. Ephesians 4:5 highlights its role in uniting the church under one Lord.
Though rare outside the New Testament and early Christian writings, baptisma captures a profound theological concept: immersion into a new reality. Whether describing John’s call to repentance or the believer’s union with Christ, the term emphasizes transformation through symbolic submersion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word baptisma points to a state of immersion rather than just the physical act. In the New Testament, it describes the profound shift that occurs when a person enters into a new reality through faith. This is not merely a ritual but a transformation of identity, marking the boundary between an old life and a new one in Christ.
Christians understand this union with Jesus as central to their hope. As Romans 6:4 explains, believers are buried with Him through baptism into death so they might walk in newness of life. This imagery reminds us that our faith involves a complete change of direction, anchored in the resurrection power that raised Jesus from the dead.
While John’s baptism called for repentance, Christian baptism identifies us with Christ’s own story. It serves as a public declaration of an internal reality, uniting believers across all backgrounds under one Lord and one faith. This shared experience offers comfort, knowing we are part of a larger family bound by grace.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 21 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- baptism13×
- a baptism3×
- baptism,2×
- baptism.1×
- [a] baptism1×
- Baptism1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- βάπτισμα16×
- βάπτισμα,2×
- βαπτίσματος2×
- βάπτισμα.¶1×
Key Verses
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Romans 6:4
We were buried therefore with him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.
This verse defines the theological purpose of baptism as the means by which believers participate in Christ's death and resurrection to live a new life.
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Mark 10:38
But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”
Jesus uses this term metaphorically to describe His impending suffering, showing that the word can signify overwhelming affliction or trial.
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Ephesians 4:5
one Lord, one faith, one baptism,
Here the word highlights the unifying nature of Christian baptism as a single point of identity for all believers under one Lord.
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Luke 12:50
But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!
Jesus expresses deep distress about the 'baptism' He must undergo, linking the concept to His sacrificial death before it was completed.
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Acts 19:4
Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Christ Jesus.”
Paul clarifies the distinction between John’s baptism of repentance and the faith in Christ that follows, showing the word's role in defining Christian doctrine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does baptisma mean in the New Testament?
How is baptisma different from John's baptism?
Why does Jesus use this word for His suffering?
What is the significance of 'one baptism' in Ephesians?
Every Occurrence (21 verses across 7 books)
Matthew 4 verses
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers,…
Matthew 20:22But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be…
Matthew 20:23He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on…
Matthew 21:25The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say,…