Matthew describes how the crowds responded to John the Baptist's message concerning the coming Kingdom of God:

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near."...People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. (Matt 3:1-2, 5-6, NIV)

Later, in Matthew 3:11, John says: "I baptize you with water for repentance." Luke 3:3 offers an even clearer picture when it says that John preached "a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." Let's analyze what John was doing and its significance:

First, what action does the word "baptize" convey? "Baptize" is a transliteration of the Greek verb baptizo, which literally means 'to plunge, dip, or immerse." "Transliteration" means that the biblical editors are simply writing the Greek word in English letters, without telling us what it means. If they actually translated the word, then they would render it "plunge, dip, or immerse."

Baptizo is the Greek word used, for example, to describe washing the dishes after a meal. In Jewish circles, "baptism" was also used as a technical term for various ceremonial "washings" or "purifications."

So, as John preached in Judea, he "baptized" the people in water -- he "dipped" them or "washed" them in water. This is why he was called "John the Baptist" or, in other words, "John the Baptizer," "John the Dipper," "John the Dunker."

Second, what was the motivation for John's baptism? Why should so many Jews allow John to dip them in the muddy waters of the Jordan River?

Matthew and Luke describe it as a baptism "for a repentance" or a "baptism of repentance."

John was going around preaching, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." When people responded to that message in a positive way, then they allowed John to immerse them. It was a baptism motivated by repentance in preparation for the coming of God's Kingdom through His Messiah, Jesus.

Third, what was the goal or result of John's baptism? What did people hope to gain from it? The answer is forgiveness of sins. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, the "new Elijah" proclaimed that God would respond to the people's sincere repentance by "washing away their sins," as symbolized by water baptism.

Against this background, we may summarize John's message as follows: God is willing to forgive and give a new start to those who repent from sin and prepare themselves for the coming of the Messiah and God's eternal Kingdom.

Reflect...

Christian baptism resembles John's baptism in many ways, but there are important differences as well. For example, John's baptism prepared people for the coming of God's Messiah, while Christian baptism is a response to the fact that the Messiah has already come.

Many New Testament texts discuss Christian baptism, and someday we will probably examine them in a series of Bare Roots. For now, let's reflect on only a few of those texts for the purpose of comparing and contrasting Christian baptism with the baptism of John:

1. Read Luke's succinct description of Christian baptism in Acts 2:38-39. According to this text, what action is involved in Christian "baptism"? What is the motivation for Christian baptism? What is the goal or result of Christian baptism? By whose authority do Christians baptize?
   
   
2. Read Acts 18:24-26 and Acts 19:1-7. According to these texts, what are the similarities and differences between Christian baptism and "the baptism of John"? How long was John's baptism intended to last? Should we still practice it today? Why or why not? How long is the practice of Christian baptism intended to last? (See also Matt 28:18-20.)
   

Christopher A. Davis, Ph.D.
Professor of New Testament
Hope International University
Fullerton, California

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