Background Study: Jewish baptisms (John the Baptist) Flashcards
Where did John begin baptizing people?
The Jordan river
Why would have Jewish people not think the practice of baptizing uncommon?
Because many circumstances in Jewish culture required the use of ritual baths
What 3 things was a Mikvah used as regular purification for?
A priest to enter the Holy of Holies, the defilement of touching a dead body or cleansing from leprosy
What was the most desirable type of Mikvah?
Now with flowing water
What is the definition of Mikvah?
a ritual bath or bathing place for purification in accordance with Jewish law
How long has the ordinance of baptizing been practiced in the Christian faith?
Since the establishment of the church in the book of Acts
According to the “Outline of Biblical Usage” why does one get baptized?
To publicly identify that he has put his faith in Christ, confessed of sin, and has been born again by the Holy Spirit
What is the definition of Ordinance?
A prescribed usage, practice, or ceremony
What does Jesus say of John the Baptist in Matthew 11:11?
That there was no greater man born to woman
Who were John the Baptist’s parents?
Zechariah and Elizabeth
What did Zechariah do?
He was a priest
Where did John’s parents live?
In the hills of Judea
How far away from Jerusalem did John the B’s parents live?
About 5 miles
What direction from Jerusalem did John’s parents live?
Southwest
Who came and told Zechariah that they would have a child?
An angel
According to the angel what were Zechariah and Elizabeth supposed to call the baby?
John
According to Luke 1:20 what happened to John the Baptist because of his disbelief about having a child?
He was to be speechless till the baby’s birth
How many months later after Zechariah and Elizabeth heard that they were to have a son that an Angel appeared to Mary?
6 months
What were Elizabeth’s and Mary’s relation?
They were cousins
According to Luke 1:26-31, what was Mary to name to baby?
Jesus
According to Luke 1:39-41, what happened when Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice?
She was filled with the Holy Spirit and John leaped in her womb
According to Luke 3:23, about how old was Jesus when He came to John to be baptized?
30
Where did John baptize Jesus?
Bethany/Bethabara
What side of the Jordan is Bethany/Bethabara?
East
How old was John when Jesus came to him to be baptized?
About 30
According to the Jews, how old did a man have to be before he gained full maturity?
30
What did John dress in?
Skins (camel)
What did John eat roaming around in the wilderness?
Wild honey and locusts
What area did John live around?
A rugged strip of land west of the Dead Sea
According to Matthew 3:1-6, what did John do in the rugged strip of land west of the Dead Sea?
Preached the message of repentance and baptized people
