1In those days, John the Baptizer was preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying: 2”Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” 3This is the one whom Isaias (Isaiah) the prophet had spoken about in these words:
The voice of one crying in the wilderness:54
Make ready the way of the Lord!
Make his paths straight!55
4It was peculiar about John that he wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5Soon, people from Jerusalem, all of Judea and the entire region around the Jordan river went out to [listen to] him. 6They were baptized by John in the Jordan, confessing their sins. 7But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to receive his baptism, he told them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Therefore, bring forth fruit worthy of repentance! 9Do not think [that you can say] to yourselves: ‘We have Abraham as our father!’ Truly, I tell you that from these stones, God is able to raise up children to Abraham! 10Even now, the axe is set at the root of the trees!56 Therefore, every tree that does not produce good fruit is to be cut down and cast into the fire. 11I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals! He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and with fire.57 12His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will thoroughly clear his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire!”
Theophany: The Lord’s Baptism
13Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14However, John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and [it is] you who come to me?”
15But Jesus answered and said to him, “Allow it for now, for it is fitting that in this way, we should fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed Jesus [to be baptized].58 16After he had been baptized, Jesus immediately came out of the water and behold, the heavens were opened to him.59 He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming down on him. 17And behold, a voice from heaven said:60
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased!”
The temptation in the desert wilderness
- NT agrees with LXX against MT.
- Isaias 40:3
- See the traditional icon of the Lord’s baptism
- MT omits “and with fire”
- Codices Vercellensis and Sangermanensis add “and when he was baptized an immense light flashed round from the water, so that all who had come were fearful” (also found in Diatesseron and St. Ephraem).
- Other manuscripts omit “to him.” See also Revelation 4:1
- Compare the account of the Lord’s baptism with Genesis 1:1-4
Text: The Eastern / Greek Orthodox Bible, New Testament (EOB). Used with permission.
