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{{bgw| Mk 1.7-8 }} {{bgw| Mt 3.11-12 }} {{bgw| Lk 3.15-18}} {{bgw| Joh 1.24-28 }}
{{bgw| Mk 1.7-8 }} {{bgw| Mt 3.11-12 }} {{bgw| Lk 3.15-18}} {{bgw| Joh 1.24-28 }}


7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with[a] water, but he will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit.”
=== '''Comparison of the Gospel Accounts: John the Baptist’s Message''' ===
(Mark 1:7-8, Matthew 3:11-12, Luke 3:15-18, John 1:24-28)
----


11 “I baptize you with[a] water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
== '''1. Common Elements Across the Accounts''' ==


* '''John the Baptist speaks of one coming after him.'''
* '''John contrasts his baptism with Jesus’ baptism.'''
** John baptizes with '''water'''.
** Jesus will baptize with '''the Holy Spirit''' (all accounts) and '''fire''' (Matthew and Luke).
* '''John expresses his unworthiness in relation to Jesus.'''
** He is '''unworthy to untie/loosen His sandal''' (Mark, Luke, John).
* '''Jesus brings judgment and separation.'''
** The '''winnowing fork''' imagery (Matthew and Luke).


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15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with[a] water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 18 And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.
== '''2. Differences Between the Accounts''' ==
{| class="wikitable"
!'''Gospel'''
!'''Key Differences'''
|-
|'''Mark 1:7-8'''
|Shortest account. Only mentions Spirit baptism, omits fire/judgment.
|-
|'''Matthew 3:11-12'''
|Adds '''fire''' with Spirit baptism. Includes '''winnowing fork/chaff''' judgment imagery.
|-
|'''Luke 3:15-18'''
|Similar to Matthew but '''adds people's speculation''' about John being the Messiah. Calls John's preaching '''"good news."'''
|-
|'''John 1:24-28'''
|Different focus—John the Baptist answers Pharisees about his identity. '''No mention of fire or judgment.''' Instead, John emphasizes Jesus' '''preexistence.'''
|}
----


== '''3. How Does the Study During the Gaps of Authorship Explain the Differences?''' ==
Since '''Mark was written first''', Matthew, Luke, and John expanded on his simpler account based on further '''study of the Old Testament and reflection on Christ’s fulfillment.'''


* '''Matthew adds the "fire" aspect''', possibly recognizing its '''judgment/purification''' meaning from the OT.
* '''Luke expands on the people's reaction, adding speculation about John being the Messiah''', suggesting a later reflection on how people misunderstood John's role.
* '''John takes a theological direction, focusing on preexistence rather than judgment.''' This reflects deeper contemplation on '''Genesis themes of creation and preexistence.'''


24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
'''Pattern of Expansion:'''


26 “I baptize with[a] water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
# '''Mark''' – Simple statement.
# '''Matthew''' – Adds '''fire and judgment''' imagery.
# '''Luke''' – Adds '''historical context and crowd reactions.'''
# '''John''' – Focuses on '''Jesus' eternal nature rather than the event itself.'''


28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
----
 
== '''4. Unique Ideas of Each Gospel Author''' ==
 
=== '''Mark (First Account, Basic Structure)''' ===
 
* Emphasizes '''Jesus' superiority''' over John.
* '''No fire or judgment''', just '''Spirit baptism'''—perhaps leaving room for future revelation.
 
=== '''Matthew (Focus on Judgment and Fulfillment)''' ===
 
* Adds '''"fire"''' to Spirit baptism, suggesting '''judgment or purification.'''
* Uses '''winnowing fork imagery''' (separation of wheat and chaff).
* Emphasizes '''imminent judgment''', fitting Matthew’s theme of '''Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy'''.
 
=== '''Luke (Focus on the People's Response)''' ===
 
* Adds '''the crowd's speculation''' about whether John is the Messiah.
* Also includes '''fire and judgment''', like Matthew.
* '''Calls John's message "good news"'''—unique to Luke.
 
=== '''John (Focus on Christ’s Preexistence)''' ===
 
* '''No mention of fire or judgment.'''
* Highlights '''John’s testimony about Jesus being before him''', tying to John’s theme of Jesus as the '''Word from the beginning (John 1:1-3).'''
* '''Focuses on John's interaction with the Pharisees''' rather than the crowds.
 
----
 
== '''5. OT Scripture That May Have Reminded Matthew of This Event''' ==
Since '''Matthew emphasizes judgment and purification''', he may have been reminded of:
 
=== '''1. Malachi 3:1-3 (The Messenger and Refining Fire)''' ===
''"Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me... He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."''
 
🔹 '''Connection:''' John sees '''fire as purification and judgment''', just like Malachi.
 
=== '''2. Isaiah 4:4 (Spirit and Fire for Cleansing)''' ===
''"When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning."''
 
🔹 '''Connection:''' The '''Spirit and fire''' are for '''purification''', like John's baptism message.
 
=== '''3. Psalm 1:4 (Wicked Like Chaff in the Wind)''' ===
''"The wicked are like chaff that the wind drives away."''
 
🔹 '''Connection:''' Matches Matthew’s '''winnowing fork/chaff imagery'''.
----
 
== '''6. Genesis Scriptures That May Have Reminded Luke of This Event''' ==
Since '''Luke includes the people's speculation and the Holy Spirit focus''', he may have been reminded of:
 
=== '''1. Genesis 1:2 (Spirit Over the Waters)''' ===
''"The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters."''
 
🔹 '''Connection:''' The '''Spirit over water''' could foreshadow '''baptism in Spirit and water.'''
 
=== '''2. Genesis 6-7 (Noah’s Flood – Water as Judgment)''' ===
''"I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh."''
 
🔹 '''Connection:''' Just as the flood '''separated the righteous from the wicked''', John’s baptism prepares for '''separation by fire.'''
 
=== '''3. Genesis 11:1-9 (Tower of Babel – Spirit and Fire)''' ===
''"Come, let us go down and confuse their language."''
 
🔹 '''Connection:''' Just as '''God "separates" people at Babel''', John's baptism and fire separate '''the righteous and unrighteous.'''
 
=== '''4. Genesis 19:24 (Sodom – Fire from Heaven)''' ===
''"The Lord rained fire and brimstone on Sodom."''
 
🔹 '''Connection:''' Luke’s '''fire imagery''' recalls '''judgment and separation''' in Sodom.
----
 
== '''7. Your Unique Ideas in Putting This Together''' ==
🔹 '''1. Seeing the Evolution of John’s Message Across the Gospels'''
 
* Rather than a '''single static message''', John’s words were '''expanded as the Gospel authors gained new insights'''. They remembered better with new triggers as guided by the Spirit.
* The '''gaps in authorship allowed for deeper study and fuller understanding'''.
 
🔹 '''2. Connecting Genesis More Deeply to the Event'''
 
* Many focus on '''Isaiah or Malachi''', but your approach highlights '''Genesis as an overlooked source of inspiration.'''
* You connect:
** '''Genesis 1 (Spirit over waters) → Baptism'''
** '''Genesis 6-7 (Flood) → Judgment & Cleansing'''
** '''Genesis 19 (Sodom) → Fire Judgment'''
** '''Genesis 11 (Babel) → Spirit Separating'''
 
🔹 '''3. Fire as Purification Rather Than Just Judgment'''
 
* Many view '''John’s “fire” as destruction''', but you emphasize it as '''purification''' (Malachi 3:3, Isaiah 4:4).
* This aligns with the idea that '''Jesus refines rather than simply condemns.'''
 
🔹 '''4. Luke’s Unique "Good News" Angle'''
 
* You could argue that '''Luke reinterprets fire as part of the "good news"'''—not just wrath, but the '''Spirit’s transforming power'''.
 
🔹 '''5. John’s Gospel as a Reflection on Preexistence Rather Than Event'''
 
* Instead of focusing on the '''baptism event''', John expands it to reflect '''on Jesus as eternal.'''
* This could align with your insight that '''later Gospel authors gained theological clarity over time.'''
 
----
 
== '''Conclusion''' ==
Each Gospel writer '''built upon Mark’s foundation''', adding layers based on '''study, revelation, and audience needs.''' Your approach reveals:
 
# '''Genesis as a primary OT trigger''' for Luke’s and John’s reflections.
# '''Fire as purification''' rather than simple destruction.
# '''Luke’s “good news” emphasis''' in contrast to Matthew’s judgment focus.
# '''John’s theological expansion into Jesus' preexistence.'''
 
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