Good News Translation restructures this verse chronologically, placing the act of confession before that of baptism. In Greek baptized translates an imperfect tense (parallel to the imperfect of “went out” in verse 5), while confessing translates a participle (a present participle in Greek may refer to an action preceding that of the main verb). But these represent formal features of the Greek, and the translator must decide what form is most adequate for the needs of the receptor language. Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch, among others, restructures in chronological sequence in Good News Bible tradition. It should be noted that the gift of forgiveness came later from Jesus (see Matt 26.28); there is no connection between baptism and forgiveness as in Mark. Here the work of the Baptist relates solely to the matter of confession.

Some scholars believe that were baptized by him may rather have the meaning “were baptized under his supervision” or “baptized themselves under his supervision.” No translations go in this direction.

Some suggest that John took over his rite of baptism from Jewish proselyte baptism; one scholar, for example, affirms without hesitation that it was taken from the Qumran community (the Essenes), but given a “far more profound meaning.” For a summary discussion of the differences between the baptism of the Qumran community and that of John the Baptist, see the modern commentaries. Regardless of the source of John’s baptism, the meaning that he gave to it is clear in the context. For a discussion of baptized, see verse 3.1. Here “they had John baptize them” or “John baptized them.”

The word confessing is often translated as “They declared openly the wrong things they had done” or “They admitted in public (or, before God) their sins.”

Whichever action, confessing or baptizing, is given first, the important thing is that the relationship between them be clear. Chronologically, the confessing preceded their being baptized. It was the people who confessed and John who baptized them. It should not sound as if John was confessing. This can be expressed as “They declared before all the sins they had done, and John baptized them in the Jordan River” or “The people were baptized by John in the Jordan River after they confessed their sins.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .