were Jewish. Oy Vey!

Taylor Marshshall (H/T New Advent) writes:  

Saint Justin Martyr explains in his Dialogue with Trypho that there was a first century Jewish sect known as the “Baptists.” Saint Epiphanius records that they were a strict subset of the Pharisees (Adversus Haereses 1, 17). According to the latter, these Jews baptized themselves every single day of the year and were also called “Daily Baptists.”

Cornelius a Lapide records, “There are some Jews among the Rabbis who practise the same rites even at the present day. But this is to live the life of ducks and fishes, rather than of men.” 

Well. I knew that ritual immersion was a common Jewish practice. But I didn’t realize that there was a sect that were called Baptists.

I love the internet!