S1E7 Baptism - Required For Salvation? - Torah (Module 2 of 4)

In this episode of The Good News, I’m Terry Munroe—and we’re heading into the wilderness for a deep dive into the Jewish origins of baptism. 🏞️ Ever wonder why folks flocked to John the Baptist for a ritual the Torah never directly mentions? Turns out, there’s a fascinating story behind that splash.
🧐 What You’ll Discover:
• Why John’s camel-hair fashion and honey-locust diet weren’t the weirdest part of his ministry 🐝
• The ancient Jewish practices of mikveh and ritual purification—and how they evolved outside of the Torah
• Insights from Hillel, Shammai, and Maimonides that show how water immersion shaped cultural and spiritual life
• The connection between conversion rituals in Judaism and Christian baptism
• Archaeological clues and oral traditions that bridge biblical silence with historical clarity
📚 Key Points Covered:
• The Torah’s silence on immersion—and why Jewish communities embraced it anyway
• How oral tradition (Talmud, Mishnah, Gemara) influenced practices not found in written scripture
• What mikveh meant for Jewish purity, conversion, and repentance—and how it set the stage for John’s message
• Why people weren’t shocked by John’s water ceremonies and how they symbolized a spiritual reset for the coming Messiah
🔍 Takeaways:
• Ritual immersion wasn’t foreign—it was a tradition rooted in evolving Jewish practice
• Baptism, in John’s ministry, reflected symbolic cleansing and spiritual preparation
• Scripture, archaeology, and oral history together tell a richer story than any one source alone