What is baptism?

Where it comes from

John the Baptist called people to a baptism of repentance in the Jordan, and Jesus himself was baptised by John. After the resurrection Jesus sent his followers to make disciples, "baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost" (Matthew 28:19, KJV). On the day of Pentecost Peter told the crowd, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you" (Acts 2:38, KJV).

What it means

Paul describes baptism as being joined to Christ's death and resurrection: "we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead… even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4, KJV). Water signifies cleansing, death to an old life and birth into a new one, and belonging to a community.

The three big questions churches answer differently

1. What does baptism do? Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran and Anglican teaching holds that God acts in baptism — washing away sin and giving new birth (baptismal regeneration, understood in various ways). Baptist, Pentecostal and many evangelical churches regard baptism as an ordinance: an act of obedience and public testimony to a salvation already received by faith.

2. Who should be baptised? Catholic, Orthodox, Lutheran, Reformed, Anglican and Methodist churches baptise infants of believing families, seeing baptism as God's promise (and pointing to whole households baptised in Acts 16). Baptists, Anabaptists, Pentecostals and many non-denominational churches practise believer's baptism only, for those old enough to profess faith.

3. How? Orthodox churches immerse, including infants, three times. Baptists immerse believers once. Catholic and most Protestant churches accept pouring or sprinkling as valid, though immersion is also used.

Is it once for all?

Most traditions recognise one another's Trinitarian baptisms and do not re-baptise. Churches practising believer's baptism usually ask people baptised as infants to be baptised as believers.

In Scripture

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.Romans 6:4 · KJV

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.Acts 2:38 · KJV

Where the traditions differ

Each position is attributed to the tradition that holds it; we do not rank them. See the full comparison.

Context