“Baptism of fire” refers to a person’s first difficult experience in a new situation, originally from the Bible and later used in a military context. In modern times, it can refer to any challenging new experience that tests an individual’s ability to cope and thrive. Examples include starting a new job or babysitting for the first time.
The term “baptism of fire” essentially refers to a person’s initial experience of trying something they have never attempted before. Also, the new experience is usually difficult and the results can make or break the person. Baptism of fire is an expression that originally came from the book of Matthew in the Bible, but later became a saying referring to the first time a soldier engaged in battle. In the modern context, the term can refer to a variety of circumstances in which an individual is first placed in a difficult situation and tested.
In Matthew 3:11, John the Baptist used the term “baptism of fire” as a way to encourage sinners to repent. Basically, people who repented would be baptized in the Holy Spirit. Those who did not repent baptized in fire. While this context is the first recorded use of the term, its meaning has changed slightly over time.
In addition to the biblical context, the “baptism of fire” was used by Dr. Barry Edward O’Meara in a memoir he wrote about Napoleon Bonaparte. The term used by O’Meara was in a military sense and referred to a soldier seeing battle for the first time. Basically, a soldier’s first time in combat was a difficult experience that made or broke him, and has therefore been dubbed a “baptism of fire.”
In more modern times, this term has come to mean any kind of difficult experience that a person engages in for the first time. Usually, this means that an individual is out of their comfort zone and exposed to a situation they are not used to. During this time he must quickly learn how to cope and thrive from the experience, or ultimately fail.
An example would be a new employee starting a job with a very demanding customer service position. His first day on the job would be a baptism of fire, where he goes through things like learning new systems, dealing with angry customers, managing stress, and other challenges. At the end of the day he will either do well and thrive, or he will fail and he is unlikely to hold his position for long.
Another example would be a babysitter on her first sitting assignment. You may be faced with some unruly children with tempers or other problematic issues. During this time, your patience will be tested and your skills will be tested. Her first day would be her baptism of fire, and she could adapt to the situation and find it rewarding. Otherwise, you may find the experience miserable and fail.
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