Eckhard Schnabel, «The Meaning of Baptizein in Greek, Jewish, and Patristic
Literature.», Vol. 24 (2011) 3-40
The treatment of the Greek term Baptizein in the standard English lexicons is unsystematic. The use of the English term ‘to baptize’ for the Greek term Baptizein in English versions of the New Testament is predicated on the assumption that the Greek verb has a technical meaning which warrants the use of a transliteration. Since the first fact is deplorable and the second fact is unsatisfactory, an investigation into the meaning of the Greek term in Greek, Jewish, and patristic literary and documentary texts is called for in order to define the meaning of the term in classical and Hellenistic Greek with more precision than usually encountered in New Testament research, with a view to construct a more helpful lexicon entry for Baptizein.
The Meaning of βαπτίζειν in Greek, Jewish, and Patristic Literature 9
II (intransitive)
1. sumergirse, mojarse; de barco hundirse
2. teñirse; mancharse; fig. se queda teñido con un tinte de Cízico e.d. se
caga de miedo
The entry for βαπτίζω is subdivided into a non-ritual (A.I-II) and
a ritual meaning (B.I-II), the entry for βάπτω lists the ritual use of the
term (I.4) among the other senses of the term. When the ‘ritual’ sense of
the verb is located in the New Testament, DGE uses the transliteration
‘bautizar’ rather than translations such as ‘lavarse’ or ‘bañarse’—the move
from intransitive uses to transitive uses certainly does not justify such a
distinction of meanings which differentiates between translations proper
and a transliteration.
The latest edition of the Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament
and Other Early Christian Literature by Walter Bauer, William F. Arndt,
F. Wilbur Gingrich, and revised by Frederick W. Danker in 200016 pro-
vides the following definitions and suggestions for translation (glosses)
for βαπτίζω:17
1. wash ceremonially for purpose of purification, wash, purify, of a broad
range of repeated ritual washing rooted in Israelite tradition;
2. to use water in a rite for purpose of renewing or establishing a relations-
hip with God, plunge, dip, wash, baptize;
a. of dedicatory18 cleansing associated with the ministry of John the Bap-
tist, have oneself baptized, get baptized;
b. of cleansing performed by Jesus;
c. of the Christian sacrament of initiation after Jesus’ death,19 baptize;
3. to cause someone to have an extraordinary experience akin to an initia-
tory water-rite, to plunge, baptize;
a. typologically of Israel’s passage through the Red Sea;
b. of the Holy Spirit (fire);
c. of martyrdom
16
Walter Bauer, Frederick W. Danker, William F. Arndt, and F. Wilbur Gingrich, A
Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature [BDAG]
(Third Edition Revised and Edited by F. W. Danker; Chicago: University of Chicago Press,
2000), s.v. βαπτίζω.
17
BDAG explains the meaning of βάπτω in terms of the single sense of ″to dip some-
thing in a liquid, dip, dip in.⁇
18
The term ‘dedicatory’ is not explained by Danker with reference to sense #2, nor with
reference to use b and c.
19
Neither the word ‘sacrament’ nor ‘initiation’ is explained by Danker.
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