The Meaning of βαπτίζειν in Greek, Jewish, and Patristic Literature 13 turning point’;28 the meaning usually assumed in contemporary texts in the sense of “times of difficulty, insecurity, and suspense in politics or commerce” (OED) can be derived from the Greek term κρίσις, and even linked with some Greek texts in which the term is used, but the English term ‘crisis’ does not ‘explain’ the range of meanings of the Greek term κρίσις. And to say that “the Greek term μεταφορά means metaphor” is equally unhelpful in view of the numerous definitions of what is called ‘metaphor’ by English speaking scholars and writers.29 The assertion “to baptize means to immerse (an individual) in water, or pour or sprinkle water over (the individual), as a symbol of admis- sion into Christianity or a specific Christian church”30 makes sense, at least linguistically (a lack of theological sophistication notwithstanding). But the assertion “βαπτίζειν means to baptize” makes sense only if three conditions are fulfilled: first, people understand what ‘to baptize’ means; second, the Greek term generally denotes what is described with the Eng- lish term ‘to baptize’; third, the Greek term has a technical meaning for an event which cannot be adequately described with other English terms, a fact which would make the use of a transliterated loan word necessary. The first condition depends on the ecclesial context of the reader of translations of the New Testament using the expression ‘to baptize’. The various options given in the definitions of ‘to baptize’ cited earlier—im- merse in water, or sprinkle water upon someone, or pour water upon someone; means of ceremonial purification (i.e. the contact with water effects purification), or symbol of spiritual rebirth, or token of initia- tion into a religious society such as the church, or sacrament—reflect the debates about the meaning of Christian water baptism in the history of the church. This means that readers of translations of the New Tes- tament in a Roman Catholic context will have a certain understanding of the meaning of the word ‘to baptize’ (newborn infants receive divine grace and the gift of God’s Spirit and become members of the church by the sprinkling of water over their foreheads), which is different from the understanding of the term among readers who belong to the Baptist tradition (new believers in Jesus publicly confess their faith through full immersion in water). Since Bible translations are not, or at least should 28 These are some of the glosses suggested by LSJ s.v. κρίσις. 29 Note the lengthy dictionary entry by Ekkehard Eggs, “Metapher”, in Historisches Wörterbuch der Rhetorik (ed. G. Ueding; Tübingen: Niemeyer, 2001), 5.1099–1183. LSJ s.v. μεταφορά lists as meaning I ‘transference’ (of ownership), then ‘transport, haulage,’ then ‘change, phase of moon,’ and only as meaning II (for Rhetoric) ‘transference of a word to a new sense, metaphor.’ 30 Merriam-Webster, College Dictionary Edition.