Baptism

Jesus’ command in the context of History
Christianity started as a cult within Judaism. Jesus did not introduce baptism.
It probably started right from the Leviticus times when the gentiles joined the
Jews. We have mentioned the prosetalyzation baptism earlier. It consisted of
two steps. Circumcision and Baptism. John’s baptism differed because John
was asking the Jews to be baptized as though they were gentiles. John’s
message was the same as that of Paul, which said, "A true Jew is not one who
is physically circumcised but who is spiritually circumcised." Baptism was
the token of spiritual circumcision. So when Jesus commanded his disciples
he was simply asking them to continue the same method. In the
prosetalysation procedure normally whole families were circumcised and
baptized including the children. However the children who were not of age
were permitted to renounce the faith and go back. The children who were
born to the prosetelytes were circumcised as a Jew and not baptized. Hence
when the Christian faith began to spread outside the Jewish group both
circumcision and baptism was performed. This was the controversy of the
period between Circumcision Group and others, which Paul mentions. The
decision that circumcision is not necessary was the beginning of Christianity
as an independent religion apart from Judaism.
There were very clear definitions and understandings handed down by Sages
which were the basis of Rabbianic teachings even at the time of Jesus. There
were clear understanding regarding covenental or contractual benefits for
children. Claiming a benefit on behalf of others are clearly allowed under
Gittin 11b; Kiddushin 23a [2x]; Bava Metzia 12a. It also clearly defines that
the beneficiary need not have any awareness of such claims according to
Ketuvot 7b and Nedarim 36b. In fact even an unborn child can be claimed for
any contractual or covenantal claims according to Ketuvot 7b. Specifically the
Talmud deals with the conversion to Judaism by minors along with the
parents in Ketuvot 11a. These children may also be immersed as a part of the
conversion. However the child is bound to this conversion only as long as he
is a minor and can refuse the conversion upon reaching maturity.
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