I, indeed, baptize you in water for repentance; but he who comes after me, whose shoes I am not worthy to wear, is mightier than I am. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
3:11 I truly baptize you in water for repentance; but the one who comes after me (11:3; evil 3:1; Joh 1:15; Joh 1:27), whose shoes I am not worthy to wear (the slave wore the master’s shoes; Juan did not feel worthy to do this humble task, JPL), is more powerful than me; — In this John shows his humility. The gospel according to John the apostle gives much emphasis to this thought (Joh 1:19-27; Joh 3:22-30). — he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit — This text is quoted twice in the Acts of the Apostles. First, in 1:4, 5 (the apostles would be baptized in the Holy Ghost) and again in 11:16 (the house of Cornelius was baptized in the Holy Ghost). When the Bible itself explains the fulfillment of a promise, we can be fully convinced of the meaning of that promise. — and fire — Some commentators believe that the Spirit and fire are the same thing: “The Spirit and the fire are not two different things, any more than the water and the Spirit (Joh 3:5), but one is the figure of the other. Fire is the symbol of the Spirit insofar as it penetrates with irresistible power and purifies the hardest metals” (BS), but baptism in fire is explained in this same text, since 3:10 says, “every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut and thrown into the fire,” and 3:12 says, “the chaff will burn up in a fire that will never go out.” Again we leave the Bible to explain itself. This text has nothing to do with “the divided tongues, as of fire” of Acts 2:3.
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
I truly baptize you. Matt 3:6; Mark 1:4, Mark 1:8; Luke 3:3, Luke 3:16; Joh 1:26, Joh 1:33; Acts 1:5; Ac 11:16; Ac 13:24; Acts 19:4.
but he who comes after me. Luke 1:17; Joh 1:15, Joh 1:26, Joh 1:27, Joh 1:30, Joh 1:34; Joh 3:23-36.
which I am not worthy to bear. Mark 1:7; Luke 7:6, Luke 7:7; Ac 13:25; Eph 3:8; 1Pe 5:5.
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Isaiah 4:4; Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 59:20, Isaiah 59:21; Zech 13:9; Evil 3:2-4; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; Joh 1:33; Acts 1:5; Acts 2:2-4; Ac 11:15, Ac 11:16; 1Co 12:13; Gal 3:27, Gal 3:28.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire: John identified the people with himself and with his message of repentance through water baptism; the one who came after him was so great that he would unite people with himself, through the Holy Spirit. John knew that the future Kingdom would be characterized by a great display of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the people of God (Isaiah 32:15; Isaiah 44:3; Eze 11:19; Eze 36:26; Eze 39:29; joe 2:28; Zech 12:10). It would be the task of the Messiah to do this: to baptize his people with the Spirit. Those who rejected him, the Messiah would baptize with fire, which is probably a figure of God’s judgment (Matt 3:10, Matt 3:12). At his first advent, Christ baptized with the Spirit. When He returns, He will baptize with fire. The meaning of fire here it is debatable. It should probably be understood as a figure of God’s judgment, stated so much earlier (v. Matt 3:10), as later (v. Matt 3:12). A careful comparison of the four parallel passages (Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; Joh 1:33) reveals that baptism with fire is used only when there is judgment in the preceding context.
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
HE WILL BAPTIZE YOU IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. John teaches that the work of the coming Messiah will include the baptism of His followers in the Holy Spirit and fire, a baptism that gives great power to live and testify of Him (see Luke 3:16note on the baptism in the Holy Spirit).
Source: Full Life Study Bible
Three types of baptism are referred to here: 1) in water for repentance. John’s baptism symbolized cleanliness (see note on v.Matt 3:6); 2) in Holy Spirit. All believers in Christ are spiritually baptized (1Co 12:13); and 3) and fire. Since fire is used in this context as a means of judgment (vv. Matt 3:10; Matt 3:12), this must refer to a baptism of judgment against the unrepentant.
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
3:11 I indeed baptize you in water for repentance; but he who comes after me (11:3; Mal 3:1; Joh 1:15; Joh 1:27), whose shoes I am not worthy to wear (the slave wore the master’s shoes; Juan did not feel worthy to do this humble task, JPL), is more powerful than me; — In this John shows his humility. The gospel according to John the apostle places much emphasis on this thought (John 1:19-27; John 3:22-30).
— he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit — This text is quoted twice in the Acts of the Apostles. First, in 1:4, 5 (the apostles would be baptized in the Holy Ghost) and again in 11:16 (the house of Cornelius was baptized in the Holy Ghost). When the Bible itself explains the fulfillment of a promise, we can be fully convinced of the meaning of that promise.
— and fire — Some commentators believe that the Spirit and fire are the same thing: “The Spirit and the fire are not two different things, any more than the water and the Spirit (Joh 3:5), but the one is the same. figure of the other. Fire is the symbol of the Spirit insofar as it penetrates with irresistible power and purifies the hardest metals” (BS), but baptism in fire is explained in this same text, since 3:10 says, “every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut and thrown into the fire,” and 3:12 says, “the chaff will burn up in a fire that will never go out.” Again we leave the Bible to explain itself. This text has nothing to do with “the divided tongues, as of fire” of Acts 2:3.
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
Joh 1:33; Acts 1:5; Ac 11:16.
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
— bring the sandals: This was a task typical of slaves; implies, therefore, an attitude of humility and submission.
— fire: fire appears frequently in the OT as a symbol of divine presence or action that judges, purifies and illuminates (see Gen 19:24; Exo 3:2; 2Ki 2:11; Isaiah 31:9; Isaiah 66:15-16; Zech 13:9; evil 3:2; see also in the NT Acts 2:3; 1Co 3:13).
Source: Hispano-American Interdenominational Translation
GRADES
(1) Or, “I dip; dive”. Gr., ba pti zo.
(2) Or: “active force.” Gr., pneu ma ti; Lat.: spi·ri·tu; J17,18,22(Heb.): beruʹach, “with active force.” See Gen 1:2, n: “Active”.
CROSS-REFERENCES
t 96 Joh 1:33; Acts 1:5; Ac 11:16
u 97 Acts 13:24; Acts 19:4
v98 Matt 11:3; Joh 1:15
w 99 Mark 1:7; Joh 1:27; Ac 13:25
x 100 Joh 1:33; Acts 2:4; 1Co 12:13
and 101 Luke 3:16
Source: New World Translation
baptism…unto repentance. Water baptism, as an external sign, is an important ceremony in recognition of repentance or salvation already accomplished.
baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Every person who believes in Christ is baptized with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5–8; 1 Cor 12:13). The fire means that the believer is purified as gold is refined.
Source: The Bible of the Americas
eleven (1) According to the context, this fire is not the fire mentioned in Acts_2:3, which is related to the Holy Spirit, but the same fire mentioned in vs.10 and 12, that of the lake of fire (Rev_20:15), where unbelievers will suffer eternal damnation. What John said here to the Pharisees and Sadducees implied that if they truly repented and believed in the Lord, He would baptize them in the Holy Spirit so that they would have eternal life; otherwise, he would baptize them in fire, casting them into the lake of fire as eternal punishment. The baptism performed by John was only intended for man to repent and be led to faith in the Lord. The baptism performed by the Lord can bring eternal life in the Holy Spirit or eternal perdition in fire. The Lord’s baptism in the Holy Spirit began the kingdom of heaven, bringing His believers into the kingdom of heaven, while His baptism in fire will conclude the kingdom of heaven, casting unbelievers into the lake of fire. Therefore, the Lord’s baptism in the Holy Spirit, which is based on His redemption, is the beginning of the kingdom of heaven, while the baptism in fire, which is based on His judgment, is the end of that kingdom. So in this verse there are three kinds of baptism: baptism in water, baptism in the Spirit, and baptism in fire. The water baptism performed by John ushered people into the kingdom of heaven. The baptism in the Spirit performed by the Lord Jesus began the kingdom of heaven and established it on the day of Pentecost, and will carry it through to its consummation at the end of this age. The baptism in fire that the Lord will carry out, according to the judgment of the great white throne (Rev_20: 11-15), will conclude the kingdom of heaven.
eleven (a) Mar_1:8 ; Luke_3:16 ; Jua_1:26 ; Ac_1:5 ; Jua_3:5
eleven (b) Ac_13:24 ; Act_9:4
eleven (c) Joh_1:15 , Joh_1:30 ; Act_13:25
eleven (d) Mar_1:7 ; Luke_3:16 ; Jua_1:27
eleven (and) Mar_1:8 ; Luke_3:16 ; Jua_1:33 ; Ac_1:5 ; Ac_2:4 ; Ac_10:44-45 ; Ac_11:15-16 ; 1Co_12:13
eleven (F) Matt_3:10 , Matt_3:12 ; Mat_25:41 ; Rev_20:15
Source: New Testament Commentary Recovery Version
christening. Baptism is a form of identification. John’s baptism was a sign that an individual recognized his need to repent for the remission of his sins. When Jesus was baptized by John (v. Matt 3:15), identified with John’s message of righteousness (although, being sinless, he did not need to cleanse himself of sin). The baptism of the Holy Spirit, foretold here, identifies the members of the body of Christ with Christ, the resurrected Head of that body (1Co 12:13). Christian baptism means identification with the Christian message and with the Christian group.
and fire. Probably a reference to the judgments associated with Christ’s return (cf. v. Matt 3:12; Evil 3:1-5; Evil 4:1-3).
Source: Ryrie Annotated Study Bible
with… → §030.
Source: Textual Bible IV Edition
R520 The prepositional phrase ἐν ὕδατι is used as a locative: in water.
R679 The pronoun αὐτός here is emphatic; refers to ὁ ἐρχόμενος.
T266 It seems that εἰς has a causal sense in this verse: because of repentance.
Source: Grammar Help for the Study of the Greek New Testament
Or, in, or, by