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They were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.
Verse Takeaways
1
Confession Gives Baptism Meaning
Commentators universally agree that John's baptism was inseparable from the confession of sins. Charles Spurgeon notes that without this acknowledgment of guilt, the act would be a "mere bathing... without spiritual significance." The outward washing was a powerful symbol precisely because it was joined with an inward, vocalized repentance, preparing the way for Christ.
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Matthew
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13
18th Century
Presbyterian
Were baptized. The word "baptize" signifies originally to tinge, to dye, or to stain, like those who dye clothe…
And they were baptized (κα εβαπτιζοντο). It is the imperfect tense to show the repetition of the act as the crowds from Judea and …
19th Century
Anglican
Were baptized—The Greek tense implies a continual succession. Crowd after crowd passed on, and still they came confessing thei…
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Baptist
The people were expecting a Messiah and so they went en masse to John as soon as his shrill voice had startled the solitudes. Bapt…
Confession of sin was commanded in the law, not only as part of a priest’s duties (Leviticus 16:21), but as an individual responsibilit…
16th Century
Protestant
Matthew 3:6; Mark 1:5. And were baptized, confessing their sins: this confession was a testimony of…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
And were baptized of him The place where they were baptized of him was, "in Jordan"; some copies read, "in the river…
After Malachi, there was no prophet until John the Baptist came. He appeared first in the wilderness of Judea. This was not an uninhabited desert, …
13th Century
Catholic
The Evangelist wrote about Christ’s entrance into the world; now, however, he writes about the course of His life, which is, in fact, considered ac…
