Category:Baptism of Jesus (subject)

The Baptism of Jesus refers to an episode in the lives of Jesus of Nazareth and John the Baptist, as narrated in the Synoptic Gospels (Mark 1:9-11; Matthew 3:13-17; Luke 3:21-22), as well as in the Gospel of the Hebrews.

Overview

The growing embarrassment that Christian tradition shows in relating the Baptism of Jesus, makes it one of the most likely events in the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In the Gospels of Mark and Luke, the event is presented as a private mystical experience; the voice from heaven is heard by Jesus only and there is no interaction between Jesus and John the Baptist. In the Gospel of Matthew, John the Baptist protests, claiming that he is the one who needs to be baptized, not Jesus. In the Gospel of John the narrative of the baptism disappears and John the Baptist stands as the witness of the mystical experience of Jesus. In the Gospel of the Hebrews Jesus was baptized but did it only at the invitation of his family, not without remarking that he did not need it.

The Baptism of Jesus in ancient sources

Gospel of the Hebrews

As quoted in Jerome, Against Pelagius III.2 -- The mother of the Lord and his brothers said to him, "John the Baptist baptizes for the forgiveness of sins; let us go and be baptized by him." But he said to them, "In what way have I sinned that I should go and be baptized by him? Unless, perhaps, what I have just said is a sin of ignorance."

The Baptism of Jesus in Scholarship

Scholarly debate has focused essentially on the historical reliability of the event.

The Baptism of Jesus in Fiction

External links

• Wikipedia