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9999 BCE
Description
Baptism is a shristian sacrament marked by ritual use of water and admitting the recipient to the Christian community, usually peformed on infants just after birth -
4000 BCE
First Occurences.
Before John The Baptist, first civilisation people used water as a purification and cleansing method. -
20 BCE
John The Baptist
Baptism was more of a preparation for the heart prior to Jesus Christ's suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension (return to Heaven). Prior to Christ's coming to baptize them "with the Holy Spirit and with fire," John the Baptist was announcing the advent of Christ and urging repentance. It was more of an outward declaration of a choice than a purging or initiation. -
200
2nd Century
The practice of baptism had gained widespread acceptance by the second century. A non-Christian religion created works on baptism as purification in the same century
A god named Mithras was revered in the religion known as Mithraism. They used water-related initiation rites and had an inner circle. They valued water so highly as a means of purification that some people would carry water with them wherever they went in daily life and in public. It was not, however, a primary rite. -
Present
The many Christian denominations have different forms and procedures for baptism, but it almost always involves water and the Trinitarian benediction, "I baptize you: in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." The applicant may be submerged completely or partially, or the water may be poured over them.