Baptism by fire
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The phrase baptism by fire or baptism of fire, known in English since 1822,[citation needed] is a translation of the French phrase baptême du feu and is a reference to a soldier's first experience under fire in battle.[citation needed]
It originates from Matthew 3:11. Of this expression, J. H. Thayer commented: "to overwhelm with fire (those who do not repent), i.e., to subject them to the terrible penalties of hell" (1958, 94). W. E. Vine noted regarding the "fire" of this passage: "of the fire of Divine judgment upon the rejectors of Christ, Matt. 3:11 (where a distinction is to be made between the baptism of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost and the fire of Divine retribution)" (1991, 308). Arndt and Gingrich speak of the "fire of divine Judgment Mt. 3:11; Lk. 3:16" (1967, 737). Finally, as J. W. McGarvey observed, the phrase "baptize you ... in fire" cannot refer to Pentecost, because there was no "baptism of fire" on that day. Parted "tongues," which were merely "like as of fire ... sat upon" each of the apostles. Those brothers were not "overwhelmed with fire" on that occasion (1875, 38). (As quoted on http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/235-what-is-the-baptism-of-fire.)
[edit] Sources and references
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.- Arndt, William and F. W. Gingrich. 1967. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago.
- McGarvey, J. W. 1875. Commentary on Matthew and Mark. Des Moines, IA: Eugene Smith.
- Thayer, J. H. 1958. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh, Scotland: T. & T. Clark.
- Vine, W. E. 1991. Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words. Iowa Falls, IA: World.
[edit] External links
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Look up baptism by fire in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
