Commentaries on Gospel Events

 

His Picture of Jesus

c. A.D. 25-27

This passage, to me, shows the true, limited symbolism of water baptism.

I am proud to be a Baptist and hope my church never drops the word from its name.

However, I believe that our use of water baptism to be a public profession of one's decision trust in Jesus is not quite  scriptural.

John's water baptism meant no such thing.  It  was meant to show publicly that the person had made a decision to turn from a sinful way of life to a holy way of living.

The Ethiopian Eunuch event might seem to contradict that, but then again, I don't believe the story tells exactly what was his motive for asking Philip to baptize him in the nearby water.

 Matthew

Mark 

Luke 

John 

 

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Mat 3:12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

 

Mar 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

Mar 1:8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.

 

Luk 3:15 And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

Luk 3:16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Luk 3:17 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.

Luk 3:18 And many other things in his exhortation preached he unto the people.

 

Joh 1:26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

Joh 1:27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.