The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 80

flftoenth ye11r of the reign of Tiberius Cmsar; because bo.ptism w1111 the visible and external i.e. between August, A,D. 28, and August, aim and result of his preacl:iing. (2) Wh"-t WEIii there new in John's baptism? In con- A..D. 29" (Bchiirer, I. ii., p. 31). sidering this it must be :remembered that Ver. 1.-In those days ; a'lld in those (a) dipping in water had been commanded days (Revised Version). Probably merely in the Law as a religious rite to priests contrnsting those past days of the beginning (Exod. xxx. 20 ; xl. 12; er. Lev. viii. G) on of the gospel with the present, when the their first consecration to their office, anrl evangelist wrote (cf. eh. xxiv. 19, 22, where on each occasion that they fulfilled tlie the days yet fu tnre nre contrasted with holiest parts of their duties (cf. the spri11- those present). In Mark i. 9 the expression klings of the Levites on their consecration, is used directly of the Lord's baptism. Numb. viii. 5---22); and to all Israelites in And (Revised Version); 6,; Hebrew usage cases of ceremonial uncleanness (Lev. xiv. taking up the narrative (cf. Josh. i. I; 8; Numb. xix. 13). (b) n was very fre- Judg. i. I; Ruth i. 1 ; Esth. i. 1). Came; quent among the Essenes (cf. especially cometh (Revised Version); historic present the quotations from Josephus in Bishop (cf. eh. ii.19); 'll'apa-y/veTa,, here equiv11lent to Lightfoot,' Colossians,' p. 171, edit. 1875). "come forward publicly," make one's public (c) It was, we can hardly doubt, alreacly appearance (cf. especially Luke xii. 51; customary at the o.dmissiou of proselytes. Heb. ix. 11 ; also especially l Me.cc. iv. 46; There are, indeed, no certain allusions in also infra, ver. 13 and eh. ii. 1). John; Josephus, Philo, and the older Targumists Jol}anan. The name occurs first as that of a (cf. Leyrer, in Cremer, '·"'· /Ja.,rd(w) to the high priest in, apparently, the days of Reho- baptism of proselytes properly so called ; bo11m (1 Chron. vi. 9, 10, Authorized Version). but (a) it is distinctly mentioned in the "The Lord is gracioUB" was II fitting title for Mishna, and in such a way as to imply that one born by the special grace of God, and it wa.s an ancient custom, for the schools of sent to be the herald of his grace to 1111 men both Shammai and Hillel assume it as a (Titus ii. 11). The Baptist. (1) The Jews matter of course(' Pea.,' viii. 8); (/3) as with were far from having attained the simplicity books, so with customs, acceptance in two of our present system, by which each person bodies originally one, as the Jewish and has both II family and a Christian name, and Christian Churches were, throws back the is thus designated with sufficient exactness book or custom before the date of the separo.- for all the ordinary purposes of life. Their tion. In other words; it is most improbable custom of name-giving was, and still largely that J ewe would only have begun to practise is, as follows: (a) A Hebrew name is given bo.ptism 11t the admission of proselytes after to the child at circumcision. This is the it ho.d been pro.otised by a body which had holy name, and is used at all strictly separated from them. Jews would not be religious ceremonies; e.g. when called to likely to adopt the distinguishing rite of read the Law in the synagogue. (b) _Each Christians. (d) Thus alreo.dy, before John's person has II no.me whereby he is known time, baptism was largely practised as a sym- among the Gentiles. This is, at the present bol of purification from sin and of entrance on time, the name used for business and social a new and holier life. Wherein, then, lny the purposes, and may be either Hebrew or of distinguishing feature of J ohn'a baptism? some other langtlRge. It is usuo.lly con- Appnrently in its being extended to all nected, either in sound or meaning, with the Israelites, without their having any person11l holy name. So Paul and Saul, Didymus and ceremonio.l hiudronce, and more particulu.rly Thomas (for numerous examples, cf. Ham- in the special aim and purpose to which it burger,' Real-Encycl.,' vol. ii. pp. 831-836. now referred. It sign-ified the 671trance upon Lowe,' l\lemorbook of Niirnberg,' pp. 18- a new life of ezpectation of llfea.,iah. As of 28: 1881). (o) He mo.y ho.ve, either as well old, the nation had accepted the offer of as or instead of the last, a nllme which God's kingdom, and, having WIIShed their designates him more exnctly (a) by mention- garments (Exod. xix.. 10, 14), had bee11 ing his father or some other relation; e.g. sprinkled with blood (Exod. x:i:iv, 8), so Do.rtimreus, Be.rsabbas (probe.lily); (IJ) by now, when this kingdom. was about to be mentioning some physical, mental, moral, more fully manifested, not the nation, or other peculiarity; e.g. Jo.mes the Little, indeed, oonsidered 11s a whole, but (i11 Simon the Zee.lot, Barne.bas (the son of he.rmony with the individuo.lization of the exhortation), and, from non-biblical authors, gospel) those ptirsons who responded to Jo.mes the Just, Rabbi Judah the Holy, the invitation, came forward and publicly Samuel the Ast.l'onomer, John the Shoe- renounced their sins o.nd professed their m11ker. The title "the Baptist" belongs, of exoectation of the kingdom (Edersheiru, course, to this last olo.ss, ancl must have been • Llfo,' etc., i. 27-l). It is thus eo.sy to given him partly because of thu number of account for tho deep o.nd widespre1ul im- persons whom he baptized, and still more pret>Siou m11de by Johu the Baptist (cf.  6B THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [on. m.1-17.