3:6

The Berean Standard Bible reverses the order of the Greek phrases in 3:6. In some languages, it may be more natural to follow the example of the Berean Standard Bible. For example:

6bThey confessed their sins, 6aand he baptized them in the Jordan River. (New Century Version)

However, in some languages, it may be more natural to follow the Greek order. For example:

6aand they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, 6bconfessing their sins. (English Standard Version)

3:6a

Confessing their sins: The phrase Confessing their sins refers to publicly admitting what their sins were. It is implied that the people were sorry for their sins.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

They told how sorry they were for their sins (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
They were admitting to God that they had sinned

sins: The Greek word that English versions translate as sins refers to anything that people do or do not do that is against God’s will. This includes acts, thoughts, and attitudes. In other words, sin is anything that violates God’s standard of what is right and good.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

wrong acts
-or-
offenses ⌊against God⌋
-or-
evil deeds

This word also occurs in 1:21c. You should translate it here as you did there.

3:6b

they were baptized by him in the Jordan River: The verb were baptized is passive. Some ways to translate this verb are:

• As a passive verb. For example:

they were baptized by him (Revised Standard Version)

• As an active verb. For example:

he was baptizing them (NET Bible)

The Greek verb probably indicates that John was baptizing people during a period of time. He may have been baptizing people over a period of weeks or months.

Only some of those who came confessed their sins and were baptized. And John baptized only the people who confessed their sins. You should not imply that John baptized everyone who went to see him.

were baptized: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as were baptized means to be ceremonially washed/purified with a special ritual that uses water. In this context, people were purified from their sins. They were not washed to remove dirt from their bodies. A person was baptized as an initiation into a new spiritual condition.

Here are some other ways to translate the word baptized:

• Use a descriptive term. For example:

ritually washed
-or-
initiated people in/with water

• Use a term for a similar ritual that is already part of your culture. You may need to indicate that in this context it has a special connection with God. For example:

⌊ceremonially/ritually⌋ wash
-or-
wash you to make you pure before God
-or-
give you an initiation bath
-or-
purify people with God’s ceremonial bath
-or-
wash people in initiation water for God

• Use a term that is already accepted by the local churches. In some areas this term may have been borrowed from the national language or transliterated from Greek or English.

See baptize, Meaning 1, in the Glossary for more information.

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