May seem like an elementary question, but I'm curious when and where Baptism was first instituted and first happened. I don't see anywhere specifically in the Old Testament where the Levitical Law commands one to be baptized for the repentance of sins. And yet in Matthew 3:15 Jesus is baptized to "fulfill all righteousness". Was this type of Baptism, with water, instituted during the 2nd Temple Period or beforehand? And why was it necesary for Christ to be baptized to fulfill ALL righteousness? Does this in anyway relate back to the cleansing with hysop or anything?
Blessings,
CD
Blessings,
CD