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InterlinearVerse GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOB JOS JDG RUTH 1 SAM 2 SAM PSA AMOS HOS 1 KI 2 KI 1 CHR 2 CHR PROV ECC SNG JOEL MIC ISA ZEP HAB JER LAM YNA (JNA) NAH OBA DAN EZE EZRA EST NEH HAG ZEC MAL LAO GES LES ESG DNG 2 PS TOB JDT WIS SIR BAR LJE PAZ SUS BEL MAN 1 MAC 2 MAC 3 MAC 4 MAC YHN (JHN) MARK MAT LUKE ACTs YAC (JAM) GAL 1 TH 2 TH 1 COR 2 COR ROM COL PHM EPH PHP 1 TIM TIT 1 PET 2 PET 2 TIM HEB YUD (JUD) 1 YHN (1 JHN) 2 YHN (2 JHN) 3 YHN (3 JHN) REV
Mark C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16
Mark 1 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V21 V23 V25 V27 V29 V31 V33 V35 V37 V39 V41 V43 V45
These notes have divided this section into three paragraphs:
1:1 serves as an introduction both to section 1:1–8 and to the book as a whole.
1:2–3 introduces John the Baptizer by quoting the Old Testament verses that predict his ministry.
1:4–8 describes John, his ministry and his message.
In some languages it may be more natural to make different paragraph breaks. For example:
1:1–3 and 1:4–8 (GNT, NCV)
1:1–8 (NRSV, REB, NAB, NJB)
Divide the paragraphs in a way that will fit the style of your language.
It is good to translate the section before you decide on a section heading for it. You will need to use terms in the heading that you have used in the verses within the section. For example, before you write a section heading for this section, you will need to know how you have translated the word “Baptizer.” See the note on 1:4a.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
The preaching of John the Baptizer
John prepared people for Jesus to arrive
There are parallel passages for this section in Matthew 3:1–12; Luke 3:1–18; and John 1:19–28.
This paragraph describes the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy in 1:2–3. It identifies John as “the messenger” and “the voice” that were mentioned in those verses. It also describes what John did and what he preached. In some languages you may want to divide 1:4–8 into two paragraphs: 1:4–5 and 1:6–8.
I baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit: In Greek the pronouns I and He are emphatic, indicating a strong contrast between John and Jesus. Some languages may have emphatic pronouns or put the pronouns in an introductory phrase. For example:
As for me, I baptize you with water, but as for him, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit
Use a natural way in your language to express this kind of contrast.
I baptize you with water,
As for me, I baptize you(plur) with water,
I use only water to purify/initiate you,
I baptize: There are two ways to interpret the past tense form of the Greek verb that the BSB translates as baptize here:
It refers to ongoing, habitual action. It indicates that John baptized people often. For example, the GNT has:
I baptize you with water (GNT) (BSB, NIV, GNT, NCV, NLT, CEV, NET)
It refers to past action. It indicates that John had already baptized people. For example, the GW has:
I have baptized you with water (GW) (GW, NRSV, REB, NJB, ESV)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). 1:7a indicates that John said this repeatedly, and he was still baptizing people when he said it. Also, the parallel passages in both Matthew and Luke use the present tense.
baptize: The word that the BSB translates as baptize refers here to using water in a ceremony of purification. The ceremony shows that a person was being purified/cleansed from sin and was committed to being one of God’s true people. This purification and identification with God’s people is based on repentance. For more information on how to translate baptize, see the note on “baptizer” in 1:4a. See also baptize, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.
you: John used the word you to refer to anyone whom he baptized. This included those who were listening to him on that day, and those whom he had baptized on previous days. So in some languages it may be more natural to translate the pronoun you more generally. For example:
I baptize people with water
I baptize with water
with water: The phrase with water means “using water” or “by means of water.” When John baptized people, he used the water of the Jordan River.
but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
but as for him, he will baptize you(plur) with the Holy Spirit.”
but he will purify/initiate you by means of God’s Holy Spirit.”
but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit: The clause but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit contrasts with 1:8a. In 1:8a John said that when he baptized people, he used water. Here in 1:8b he indicates that Jesus will use the Holy Spirit to baptize people. This fact implies that the Holy Spirit baptizes (that is, purifies and initiates) people in a more powerful way.
If possible, use the same term for baptize in the phrases “baptize you with water” and baptize you with the Holy Spirit in order to express the contrast. For example:
As for me, I only clean/initiate you with water. But as for him, he will clean/initiate you with the Holy Spirit.
As for me, I put you in water, but as for him, he will put the Holy Spirit in your hearts/minds.
If your term for baptize includes the word “water,” you may need to use a different term to translate baptize…with the Holy Spirit. If that is true in your language, consider how to express the contrast between John’s baptism and Christ’s baptism in another way. For example:
I give you only a baptism-in-water; as for him, he will purify you with the Holy Spirit.
with the Holy Spirit: The phrase with the Holy Spirit means “using the Holy Spirit” or “by means of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus, the one who was coming, would use the Holy Spirit to baptize people.
Holy Spirit: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Holy Spirit refers to the Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit is God, together with God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is Spirit in the sense that he is a living being who does not have a physical body. He is Holy in the sense that he is God and is pure and sinless.
Here are some other ways to translate Holy Spirit:
Spirit/Breath of/from God
Holy/Sacred Spirit
Do not imply that the Holy Spirit is like the ghost of a dead person or that God has died.
Note 1 topic: translate-tense
ἐβάπτισα
baptized
Here John could be using the past tense: (1) to refer generally to how he baptizes people. Alternate translation: [always baptize] (2) to refer specifically to how he just baptized some people. Alternate translation: [I have baptized]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / yousingular
(Occurrence -1) ὑμᾶς
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐγώ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι αὐτός δέ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ)
Since John is speaking to many people, the word you is plural throughout this verse.
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor
αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐγώ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι αὐτός δέ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ)
Here John indicates that the one coming after him will cause people to experience the Holy Spirit, just as John caused people to experience water in baptism. If possible, preserve the baptism metaphor or express the idea in simile form. Alternate translation: [but he will baptize you, as it were, with the Holy Spirit] or [and he also will perform something like baptism, but he will use the Holy Spirit]
Note 4 topic: grammar-connect-logic-contrast
δὲ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Ἐγώ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι αὐτός δέ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ)
Here, the word but introduces what the one coming after John will use for baptism in contrast to what John uses. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a different word or phrase that introduces a contrast. Alternate translation: [and, in contrast,]
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.