Dictionary Article

Metaphor coined by John the Baptist. John was looking for the coming of One who would “baptize in Spirit and fire” (Mt 3:11; Lk 3:16). The context makes clear that fire in that phrase denotes judgment, a judgment that would presumably purify the penitent (cf. Is 4:4; Mal 3:2-3) as well as destroy the impenitent (Mal 4:1; Mt 3:10,12).

Show passage in OET: MAT 3:11

OET-RV MAT 3:11

11 I’m immersing people in water as a sign that they’re turning away from their sins, but there’s another one coming after me who’s greater than me—so much so that I’m not even worthy to carry his sandals. He’ll immerse you in the holy spirit and with fire.

OET-LV MAT 3:11

11 I on _one _hand am _immersing you _all in water to repentance, on _the _other _hand the one coming after me is mightier than me, of _whom not I _am worthy to _bear the sandals.
He will _be _immersing you _all in the_ holy _spirit and with _fire.

Show passage in OET: LUK 3:16

OET-RV LUK 3:16

16 but he explained to them all, “I’ve been immersing you all in water, but there’s one coming who’s greater than me, in fact I’m not even worthy to unlace his sandals. He will immerse you all with the holy spirit and with fire.

OET-LV LUK 3:16

16 the Yōannaʸs answered saying to _all:
I on _one _hand am _immersing you _all in _water, on _the _other _hand the one mightier than me is _coming, of _whom not I _am worthy to _untie the strap of _the sandals of _him, he will _be _immersing you _all in the_ holy _spirit, and with _fire,

Show passage in OET: ISA 4:4

OET-RV ISA 4:4

4 Surely my master will wash away the filth of Tsiyon’s daughters, and clean up the blood stains from the middle of Yerushalem using the spirit of judgement and the spirit of fire.

OET-LV ISA 4:4

4 If my_master he _has _washed _away DOM the _excrement _of the _daughters _of Tsiyyōn and_DOM the _blood(s)_of Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) he _will _cleanse from_midst _of_its by_a _spirit _of judgement and_by_a _spirit _of burning.

Show passage in OET: MAL 3:2–3

OET-RV MAL 3:2

2 But who could survive it when he comes? Who can stand when he appears, because he’ll be like the refiner’s fire and like the cleaners’ powerful soap?

OET-RV MAL 3:3

3 Yahweh will act as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify Levi’s descendants the priests—yes, he’ll refine you all with fire like gold and silver, and you’ll bring offerings to him that are acceptable.

OET-LV MAL 3:2

2 And_who will_endure DOM the _day _of his _coming and_who is_the_one _who _will_stand when_appears_he if/because he is_like_the_fire a _refiner and_like_the_soap washers.

OET-LV MAL 3:3

3 And_he _will _sit one _who_refines and_one _who_purifies silver and_he _will _purify DOM the _descendants _of Lēvī and_he _will _refine DOM_them like_gold and_like_silver and_they _will _be to/for_YHWH bringing _near _of (of)_an _offering in_righteousness.

Show passage in OET: MAL 4:1

OET-RV MAL 4:1

4 “Yes, listen, the day that burns like a furnace is coming, when all the arrogant people and all the evildoers will become useless pieces of dry stalks in a field. The day that is coming will burn them up,” says Commander-in-chief Yahweh, “so they’ll be gone without leaving any roots or branches.

OET-LV MAL 3:19

19  If/because HERE the_day is_coming it_is_burning like_oven and_they _will _be all _of arrogant_people and_all one _who_does _of (of)_wickedness stubble and_ the_day which_is_coming _it _will _set _ablaze DOM_them YHWH soldiers/messengers he _says that not it _will _leave to/for_them root and_branch.

Show passage in OET: MAT 3:10

OET-RV MAT 3:10

10 The axe has already been placed at the base of the trees ready to cut down any tree that’s not producing good fruit, and then it’ll be thrown into the fire.

OET-LV MAT 3:10

10 And already the axe is _lying to the root of _the trees, therefore every tree not producing good fruit is _being _cut _off and is _being _thrown into the_fire.

Jump to OET MAT 3:11 section.

Jump to OET LUK 3:16 section.

Jump to OET ISA 4:4 section.

Jump to OET MAL 3:2–3 section.

Jump to OET MAL 4:1 section.

Jump to OET MAT 3:10 section.

The prophets and apocalyptic writers frequently spoke of a period of tribulation and suffering necessary before the new age could come: “the messianic woes,” “the birth pangs of the Messiah,” “a river of fire.” Parallels to John’s phraseology are found in Isaiah 30:27-28 and in the pseudepigraphal 2 Esdras 13:10-11. John the Baptist probably adopted that usage and reexpressed it through a metaphor drawn from his own most characteristic act (baptism). His “baptize in fire” thus probably denoted the purifying judgment that would bring in the new age as well as bring individuals into the new age.

Show passage in OET: ISA 30:27–28

OET-RV ISA 30:27

27 Look, Yahweh is coming from far away.
⇔ He’s very angry and his weight ascends.
⇔ His lips are full of indignation
⇔ and his tongue is like a consuming fire.

OET-RV ISA 30:28

28 His breath is like a rushing river that comes up to the neck,
⇔ to sift the nations in a sieve that separates out worthlessness,
⇔ and with a bridle in the people’s jaws to lead them astray.

OET-LV ISA 30:27

27 THERE the _name _of YHWH is_coming from_a _distance anger _of_his is_burning and_is_weight lifting _up lips _of_his they _are _full indignation and_tongue _of_his is_like_a _fire consuming.

OET-LV ISA 30:28

28 And_breath _of_his is_like_a _torrent overflowing to the_neck it _reaches for_shaking nations in_a _sieve _of worthlessness and_a _halter which_misleads on the_jaws _of peoples.

Show passage in OET: LES 13:10–11

OET-RV LES 13:10

10 but I saw only how he sent out of his mouth something like a flood of fire, and out of his lips a flaming breath, and out of his tongue he shot out a storm of sparks.

OET-RV LES 13:11

11 These were all mixed together: the flood of fire, the flaming breath, and the great storm, and fell onto the assault of the multitude which was prepared to fight, and burnt up every one of them, so that all of a sudden an innumerable multitude was seen to be nothing but dust of ashes and smell of smoke. When I saw this, I was amazed.

Jump to OET ISA 30:27–28 section.

Jump to OET LES 13:10–11 section.

There is no further biblical reference specifically to baptism of fire. Mark and John abbreviate the Baptist’s preaching by omitting all mention of judgment. With Pentecost and beyond, John’s baptism in water is seen as fulfilled in baptism in the Spirit. But Jesus seemed to echo the Baptist’s conviction that a fiery purification was necessary (Mk 9:49). And he clearly picked up the Baptist’s prediction, but referred the baptism and presumably the fire to his own death (Lk 12:49-50). His death is understood as suffering the fiery baptism for others. That thought is matched by the apostle Paul in his understanding of baptism into Christ as a baptism into Christ’s death (Rom 6:3). So it can be said that John’s expectation of a purgative baptism of fire for the penitent is most nearly fulfilled in the believer’s being united with Christ in his death and sharing in his sufferings; only in that way does one come to share fully in Christ’s risen glory (Rom 6:5; 8:17-23; Phil 3:10-11).

Show passage in OET: MRK 9:49

OET-RV MRK 9:49

49 “Everyone will be salted with fire.

OET-LV MRK 9:49

49 For/Because everyone will _be _being _salted with _fire.

Show passage in OET: LUK 12:49–50

OET-RV LUK 12:49

49 “I came to throw fire onto the earth, and how I wish that it was already kindled,

OET-RV LUK 12:50

50 but I have to undergo an immersion into suffering, and until it’s achieved, the weight of it coming crushes my soul.

OET-LV LUK 12:49

49 I _came to _throw Fire on the earth, and how I _am _wanting if it _was_ already _kindled?

OET-LV LUK 12:50

50 But I _am _having to _be _immersed immersion, and how I _am _being _pressed until of _which it _may _be _accomplished.

Show passage in OET: ROM 6:3

OET-RV ROM 6:3

3 Or didn’t you realise that when we were immersed into Messiah Yeshua (Jesus; Grk. Yesus), we were immersed into his death?

OET-LV ROM 6:3

3 Or you _all _are _not _knowing, that as _many _as we _were _immersed into chosen _one /messiah Yaʸsous, into the death of _him we _were _immersed?

Show passage in OET: ROM 6:5

OET-RV ROM 6:5

5 If we’ve taken part in the likeness of his death, then we’ll also take part in the resurrection,

OET-LV ROM 6:5

5 For/Because if grown _together we _have _become in _the likeness of _the death of _him, but also of _the resurrection we _will _be,

Show passage in OET: ROM 8:17–23

OET-RV ROM 8:17

17 and if we’re his children, then we’re also heirs, so we’ll receive an inheritance from God. That makes us fellow-heirs along with Messiah—if we’re suffering with him then we’ll also be honoured along with him.

OET-RV ROM 8:18

18 I’m sure that any sufferings we experience in this age are nothing in comparison with the coming splendour that’s going to be revealed to us,

OET-RV ROM 8:19

19 because all of creation is eagerly expecting and waiting for God’s children to be revealed.

OET-RV ROM 8:20

20 Yes, all of creation has been subjected to lack of purpose, not willingly, but because it was decided by the one who subjected it, but it remains with the hope

OET-RV ROM 8:21