The preaching of John: Christ is baptized.

¹ Now in those days, John the Baptist arrived, preaching in the desert of Judea,

² and saying: “Repent. For the kingdom of heaven has drawn near.”¹²

1. 3:2The verb ‘appropinquavit’ is in the past tense, ‘has drawn near’ rather than ‘is near.’(Conte)
2. 3:2Do penance: Paenitentiam agite. Which word, according to the use of the scriptures and the holy fathers, does not only signify repentance and amendment of life, but also punishing past sins by fasting, and such like penitential exercises.(Challoner)

³ For this is the one who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah, saying: “A voice crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight his paths.”

⁴ Now the same John had a garment made from the hair of camels, and a leather belt around his waist. And his food was locusts and wild honey.¹

1. 3:4The waistline in those days was above the navel, around the kidneys and lower back (lumbos), not at the hips as is so common today.(Conte)

⁵ Then Jerusalem, and all Judea, and the entire region around the Jordan went out to him.

⁶ And they were baptized by him in the Jordan, acknowledging their sins.¹

1. 3:6Since this was not the Sacrament of Confession, the translation prefers ‘acknowledging’ to ‘confessing.’(Conte)

⁷ Then, seeing many of the Pharisees and Sadducees arriving for his baptism, he said to them: “Progeny of vipers, who warned you to flee from the approaching wrath?¹

1. 3:7Pharisees and Sadducees: These were two sects among the Jews: of which the former were for the most part notorious hypocrites; the latter, a kind of freethinkers in matters of religion.(Challoner)

⁸ Therefore, produce fruit worthy of repentance.

⁹ And do not choose to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that God has the power to raise up sons to Abraham from these stones.

¹⁰ For even now the axe has been placed at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that does not produce good fruit shall be cut down and cast into the fire.

¹¹ Indeed, I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who will come after me is more powerful than me. I am not worthy to carry his shoes. He will baptize you with the fire of the Holy Spirit.¹

1. 3:11The word ‘me’ is used instead of the grammatically correct ‘than I’ because it sounds more natural in English and because it makes a better parallel with the phrase ‘after me’. Even though the verse literally says ‘and fire,’ the word ‘et’ is sometimes used in Latin in a way that it is not used in English, to combine two qualities of the same thing. So the Baptism of Christ is not Holy Spirit and also fire, but rather the figurative fire of the Holy Spirit.(Conte)

¹² His winnowing fan is in his hand. And he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor. And he will gather his wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”¹

1. 3:12The words ‘should’ and ‘shall’ are not ordinarily used about God. He does not do things because they are right, nor because he should do them, but rather the things He does are right because He does them.(Conte)

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee, to John at the Jordan, in order to be baptized by him.

¹⁴ But John refused him, saying, “I ought to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”

¹⁵ And responding, Jesus said to him: “Permit this for now. For in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all justice.” Then he allowed him.

¹⁶ And Jesus, having been baptized, ascended from the water immediately, and behold, the heavens were opened to him. And he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him.

¹⁷ And behold, there was a voice from heaven, saying: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”