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They asked him, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
Verse Takeaways
1
A Question of Authority
The Pharisees' question, "Why then do you baptize?" was a direct challenge to John's authority. Commentators explain that they believed only the Messiah, Elijah, or "the prophet" had the right to introduce such a significant new religious practice. Since John denied being any of these figures, they were demanding to know by what divine commission he was acting.
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John
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14
18th Century
Presbyterian
Why do you baptize then... — Baptism on receiving a proselyte from paganism was common before the time of John, but it was not customary t…
Why then baptizest thou? (Τ ουν βαπτιζεισ; ). In view of his repeated denials (three here mentioned).
If thou art n…
19th Century
Anglican
Why do you baptize then?—Baptism, which was certainly one of the initiatory rites of proselytes in the second or third century A.D…
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Baptist
Of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias. And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.…
The Pharisees represented the strict interpreters of the Law and were particularly interested in examining the credentials of any new religious tea…
16th Century
Protestant
Why then do you baptize? By establishing those three categories, they appear to form a very conclusive argument: if you are not the Ch…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And they asked him, and said to him They put a question, by saying to him, why baptize you then, if you …
John denies being the Christ, who was then expected and waited for. He came in the spirit and power of Elias, but he was not the person of Elias. J…
13th Century
Catholic
Above, we saw John bear witness to Christ when he was questioned about matters concerning himself; here, he is questioned about matters concerning …
