I'm not sure if this is the right place, but I think it is. Also, I'm not quite sure how to ask what I'm wondering about, so please bear with me.

Matt. 3:5-6
Mark 1:4-5
Luke 3:2-3
John 1:25-28

All these Scripture references talk about John the Baptist baptizing in the River Jordan for the redemption of sins.

OK...what I'd like to know is how this concept came about? I mean, at that time....and this was before Christ began his ministry....weren't the Israelites supposed to offer sacrifices at the Temple to atone for their sins?

Have I missed something here? I have read through the Bible several times and going through it again, along with NOW studying it. And it occurred to me....why is John baptizing people with water? How did this come about?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

well this may only be a partial answer but here goes lol

the jews had what was called a mikvah which was a ritual cleansing bath. That was not to take sins away or repent or anything but to make them ritually pure and clean. I believe personally that through that the Lord taught John by the Holy Spirit to baptise for repentance because in baptism we are buried with Him,and when the Israelites in the red sea were baptised so there was on OT shadow of this happening. We can remember that John the baptist had the Holy Spirit from the womb! Hopefully this helps alittle i am sure there is a bigger answer to this also

Yes, I've read about the mikvah, though, I hadn't connected it to John's baptizing.

Another thing....the priests didn't seem to regard this as being against their teachings (you know, the sacrificing and all), which is another reason why I'm wondering about it. They sent people out to question him about his authority in doing so....even wondering if HE was the Messiah.
So, it seems to me that it was something 'new' at that time, but the authorities in the priesthood seemed to 'accept' it, somewhat.

I'd really like to find out about this, but not sure where to find definitive answers.

Thank you for replying!

I do agree it was new at the time but since people did not stop doing their temple things to do johns but did johns also i think they couldnt say much.

From Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible (red emphasis mine):

Mat 3:6
Were baptized - The word “baptize” βαπτίζω baptizo signifies originally to tinge, to dye, to stain, as those who dye clothes. It here means to cleanse or wash anything by the application of water. See the notes at Mar_7:4. Washing, or ablution, was much in use among the Jews, as one of the rites of their religion, Num_19:7; Heb_9:10. It was not customary, however, among them to baptize those who were converted to the Jewish religion until after the Babylonian captivity. At the time of John, and for some time previous, they had been accustomed to administer a rite of baptism, or washing, to those who became proselytes to their religion; that is, to those who were converted from being Gentiles. This was done to signify that they renounced the errors and worship of the pagans, and as significant of their becoming pure by embracing a new religion.
It was a solemn rite of washing, significant of cleansing from their former sins, and purifying them for the special service of Yahweh. John found this custom in use; and as he was calling the Jews to a new dispensation - to a change in their form of religion - he administered this rite of baptism (washing), to signify the cleansing from sin, the adopting of the new dispensation, or the fitness for the pure reign of the Messiah. He applied an old ordinance to a new purpose. As it was used by him it was a significant rite, or ceremony, intended to denote the putting away of impurity, and a purpose to be pure in heart and life. The Hebrew word טבל Tabal which is rendered by the word “baptize,” occurs in the Old Testament in the following places, namely: Lev_4:6; Lev_14:6, Lev_14:51; Num_19:18; Rth_2:14; Exo_12:22; Deu_33:24; Jos_3:15; Job_9:31; Lev_9:9; 1Sa_14:27 (twice); 2Ki_5:14; 2Ki_8:15; Gen_37:31; Jos_3:15.
It occurs in no other places; and from a careful examination of these passages its meaning among the Jews is to be derived. From these passages it will be seen that its radical meaning is neither to sprinkle nor to immerse. It is to dip, commonly for the purpose of sprinkling, or for some other purpose.
Thus, to dip the finger, i. e., a part of the finger, in blood enough to sprinkle with, Lev_4:6. To dip a living bird, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop, in the blood of the bird that was killed, for the purpose of sprinkling; where it could not be that all these would be immersed the blood of a single bird, Lev_14:6. To dip hyssop in the water, to sprinkle with, Num_19:18. To dip a portion of bread in vinegar, Rth_2:14. To dip the feet in oil - an emblem of plenty, Deu_33:24. To dye, or stain, Eze_23:15. To plunge into a ditch, so as to defile the clothes, Job_9:31. To dip the end of a staff in honey, 1Sa_14:27. To dip in Jordan - a declaration respecting Naaman the Syrian, 2Ki_5:14. The direction of the prophet was to wash himself 2Ki_5:10, and this shows that he understood washing and baptizing to mean the same thing. To dip a towel, or quilt, so as to spread it on the face of a man to smother him, 2Ki_8:15.
In none of these cases can it be shown that the meaning of the word is to immerse entirely But in nearly all the cases the notion of applying the water to a part only of the person or object, though it was by dipping, is necessarily to be supposed.
In the New Testament the word βαπτίζω baptizo, in various forms, occurs 80 times; 57 with reference to persons. Of these 57 times, it is followed by “in” ἐν en 18 times, as in water, in the desert, in Jordan; 9 times by “into” εἰς eis, as into the name, etc., into Christ; once it is followed by ἐπί epi Act_2:38, and twice by “for” ὑπέρ huper, 1Co_15:29.
The following remarks may be made in view of the investigation of the meaning of this word:
1. That in baptism it is possible, perhaps probable, that the notion of dipping would be the one that would occur to a Jew.
2. It would not occur to him that the word meant of necessity to dip entirely, or to immerse completely.
3. The notion of washing would be the one which would most readily occur, as connected with a religious rite. See the cases of Naaman, and Mar_7:4 (Greek).
4. It cannot be proved from an examination of the passages in the Old and New Testaments that the idea of a complete immersion was ever connected with the word, or that it ever occurred in any case. If those who were baptized went into the water, it is still not proved by that, that the only mode of baptism was by immersion, since it might have been by pouring, though they were in the water.
5. It is not positively enjoined anywhere in the New Testament that the only mode of baptism shall be by an entire submersion of the body under water. Without such a precept it cannot be made obligatory on people of all ages, nations, and climes, even if it were probable that in the mild climate of Judea it was the usual mode.
In Jordan - The River Jordan is the eastern boundary of Palestine or Judea. It rises in Mount Lebanon, on the north of Palestine, and runs in a southerly direction, underground, for 13 miles, and then bursts forth with a great noise at Cesarea Philippi. It then unites with two small streams, and runs some miles farther, and empties into the Lake Merom. From this small lake it flows 13 miles, and then falls into the Lake Gennesareth, otherwise called the Sea of Tiberias or the Sea of Galilee. Through the middle of this lake, which is 15 miles long and from 6 miles to 9 miles wide, it flows undisturbed, and preserves a southerly direction for about 70 miles, and then falls into the Dead Sea. The Jordan, at its entrance into the Dead Sea, is about 90 feet wide. It flows in many places with great rapidity, and when swollen by rains pours like an impetuous torrent. It formerly regularly overflowed its banks in time of harvest, that is, in March, in some places 600 paces, Jos_3:15; 1Ch_12:15. These banks are covered with small trees and shrubs, and afford a convenient dwelling for wild beasts. Allusion is often made to these thickets in the sacred Scriptures, Jer_49:19; Jer_50:44. On the reason why a river, or a place abounding in water, was selected for administering baptism, see the notes at Joh_3:23.

Thank you, Bo, that was very enlightening and thorough answer!

While you are quite welcome I believe the real thanks goes to our brother Albert Barnes.

Oh to be sure! Since I don't think he's a member here at TJ, I think it's quite appropriate that you offered his insights on the subject, being the helpful person that you are.

1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.


Act 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.


We ALL NEED JESUS in the End 100%