baptism
noun
Did you know?
In Christianity, baptism is the sacrament of admission to the church, symbolized by the pouring or sprinkling of water on the head or by immersion in water. The ceremony is usually accompanied by the words “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” In the doctrine originated by St. Paul, it signifies the wiping away of past sins and the rebirth of the individual into a new life. Judaism practiced ritual purification by immersion, and the Gospels report that John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Baptism was an important ritual in the early church by the first century ce, and infant baptism appeared c. 200 ce. Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and most Protestant churches practice infant baptism. The Anabaptist reformers insisted on adult baptism after a confession of faith; modern Baptists and the Disciples of Christ also practice adult baptism.
Examples of baptism in a Sentence
J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 20 Feb. 2025
Vargo lists her parents as James J. Purcell of Ohio and wife Minnie Shields Purcell originally of Canada, with baby Irene’s baptism record date notarized Aug. 30, 1896 in East Chicago, Indiana.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2025
Pentecostals believe all Christians should seek a baptism with the Holy Spirit, which can enable them to receive supernatural gifts which existed in the early church.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024
Members of the family have spoken out about religious issues, routinely ended episodes of the series with prayer and have preached nationwide about faith, repentance and baptism.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baptism
Cite this Entry
“Baptism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baptism. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
baptism
noun
Share