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The Christian rite (sacrament, in some denominations) of baptism was not a completely new and unrelated religious practice instituted by Jesus or John the Baptizer. A strong antecedent is in the Old Testament practice of ritual purifications. Other possible areas of background are the Jewish practice of proselyte baptism and the ritual Lustrations of the Qumran community.1 Though there are differences from the Christian rite, significant parallels can be found.

