Paragraph 3:11–12

In 3:7–10, John had been speaking to the Pharisees and Sadducees. In this paragraph, he was apparently speaking to the entire crowd. He was baptizing only those who had changed their behavior from bad to good.

3:11a

I baptize you with water: The phrase I baptize you with water means “I baptize you using water.” When John baptized people, he did so using the water of the Jordan River.

If your word for “baptize” is a term like “wash/cleanse with water,” it may be redundant or unnatural to add the phrase with water. In such a case, you may need to say something like:

I wash/cleanse you with only water
-or-
I bathe you with water using this water

I: The word I is emphatic in Greek. In addition, a word in Greek follows the word I that indicates the first half of a contrast. The contrast is between what I (John) did and what he (Jesus) was to do. I, John, baptize with water, but he will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

baptize: The word baptize also occurs in 3:6. You should translate it here as you did there.

you: John used the word you to speak in general about anybody whom he baptized. This included those listening to him, and many others besides. So in some languages, it may be more natural to translate the pronoun you more generally. For example:

I baptize people with water
-or-
I baptize with water (New Living Translation (2004))

for repentance: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as for repentance can also be translated as:

to show that you have repented (Good News Translation)
-or-
as a sign of your repentance (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)
-or-
to show that your hearts and lives have changed (New Century Version)

See repentance in the note at 3:8 for more information about this word.

3:11b

but: There is a contrast between 3:11a and 3:11b–d. The contrast is between what John did and what Jesus will do. John baptized with water, but Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

English versions indicate this contrast with the conjunction but.

after me: Here the phrase after me refers to being later in time. It does not refer to coming behind someone. John had already begun his work for God, and Jesus was about to begin his work.

Here are some other ways to translate the clause “after me will come One”:

the one who will come following/succeeding me
-or-
the person who will come later

One more powerful than I: The expression more powerful in this context means “having more authority,” or “greater.” For example:

he who is greater than I am (New Century Version)
-or-
One who is superior to me

One: Here the word One refers to the Christ/Messiah.

3:11c

whose sandals I am not worthy to carry: With this statement, John emphasized how much greater the Messiah was than he was. In New Testament times, it was the work of a slave to carry his master’s sandals. John was saying that the Messiah was so much greater than he was that he was not important enough even to be his slave.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

• Keep the image of carrying the sandals. For example:

I am not worthy to carry his sandals. (New Revised Standard Version)

• Keep the image and add a footnote to explain the meaning of carrying someone’s sandals. For example the Contemporary English Version footnote says:

carry his sandals: This was one of the duties of a slave. (Contemporary English Version)

• Translate the meaning of the image. For example:

I am not even worthy to be his slave. (New Living Translation (1996))

sandal with thongs

sandals: The word sandals refers to a type of open shoe. The sandals people wore in that time were usually pieces of leather that made a shoe sole (bottom). This leather sole was tied on the foot with leather straps or thongs.

Here is another way to translate this word:

shoes

I am not worthy: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as worthy means “qualified” or “adequate” to do something. John felt that he was not important enough to even act as Jesus’ slave. He felt he did not deserve the honor of serving him. He was emphasizing how great Jesus was.

Here are some other ways to translate this clause:

I do not have enough worth/value
-or-
I am not good/important enough
-or-
it is not acceptable for me

In this context, the focus of worthy is on John’s status, not his character. Do not imply that John was a bad or evil person. Also do not imply that John was not physically able to do this task.

3:11d

In 3:11d, John told the people another way that the Messiah was superior to him: The Messiah’s baptism would be superior to his baptism. John’s baptism was a physical baptism. He baptized with water. But the Messiah would baptize people with the Holy Spirit and fire.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire: Here the word baptize is used in a figurative sense. Scholars interpret this figurative meaning in two main ways:

(1) Jesus would cleanse/purify God’s people with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

(2) Jesus would cleanse/purify God’s people with the Holy Spirit and judge others with fire.

You should translate this so that people can interpret this part of the verse in either of these ways.

If possible, you should try to use the normal term in your language for “baptize,” in order to keep the contrast between John’s baptism and the Messiah’s baptism. For example:

When he baptizes you, he will use the Holy Spirit and fire.
-or-
As for him, he will baptize you by means of the Holy Spirit and fire.
-or-
When he baptizes you, he will cause the Holy Spirit to initiate/purify you. He will also cause you to experience fire.

In some languages, it may not be possible to use the normal term for “baptize” with a figurative meaning. For example, it may not be possible to use the term “initiate with water” with the words Holy Spirit and fire. If that is the case in your language, you may need to use different verbs and express the contrast in different ways. For example:

In contrast, what he will do to you (plur.) is to initiate/purify you with the Holy Spirit. He will also cause you to experience fire.

See also baptize, Meaning 2, in the Glossary.

He: In Greek, the pronoun He is emphatic. It refers to the Messiah/Christ, and contrasts with the pronoun “I” in 3:11a.

with the Holy Spirit: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as with indicates the means by which the Messiah will baptize people. He will baptize them with or “by using” the Holy Spirit. It does not mean that the Messiah along with the Holy Spirit will baptize people.

Holy Spirit: The phrase 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 unique from every other being. He is perfect in every way and is completely pure and sinless.

Here are some other ways to translate Holy Spirit:

Spirit/Breath of God

-or-

Holy/Sacred Spirit

Do not imply that the Holy Spirit is like the ghost of a dead person or that God has died.

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