The Jewish roots of Christian baptism

The Jewish roots of Christian baptism July 2, 2015

Here is a startling find in a neighborhood outside Jerusalem: the discovery of an ancient mikveh under someone’s home.

A mikveh is a purity bath of immersion that Jews used (and still use today) to cleanse them of religious impurity.  There were many of them on the southern steps of the Temple, which can be seen today.  Baruch Kvasnica and I have shown them to our tour groups.  Since it was a requirement to be immersed in one of these before entering the Temple for special feasts, it is probable that Jesus used one or more of them.

Scholars debate the relation of mikvaot (the plural) to Christian baptism, but most affirm a link between the two.  Maimonides wrote that baptism was required for Gentile converts to Judaism.  It likely that he was speaking of a mikveh. 

In any event, take a look at the gorgeous pictures at the link above.


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