Baptism started way before Christianity was even a thing. It’s older than the Bible, older than the church, and probably older than your grandma’s favorite hymn.
But its modern form—as a public “yes” to following Jesus—really started with John the Baptist and took off with the first Christians around 30 AD. So yeah, it’s ancient and brand new at the same time.
Next time you see a baptism, remember: you’re watching a ritual that’s been evolving for millennia. From Egyptian priests to Jewish mystics to a carpenter from Nazareth, we’ve all been asking the same question: “How do I start over?”
And the answer, apparently, is getting wet. Pretty cool, right?
