John the Baptist's Witness
John 1:19-28
John.1.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- μαρτυρια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Ιωαννου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- οτε: CONJ
- απεστειλαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- Ιουδαιοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- εξ: PREP
- Ιεροσολυμων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- ιερεις: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- Λευιτας: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ινα: CONJ
- ερωτησωσιν: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,pl
- αυτον·Συ: PRON,acc,sg,m + PRON,nom,sg,2
- τις: PRON,nom,sg,?
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
Parallels
- John 1:6-8 (structural): Introduces John the Baptist and his role as a witness, providing the immediate context for the interrogation in 1:19.
- John 1:22 (verbal): Direct continuation where John answers the question 'Who are you?'—he explicitly denies being the Christ, directly responding to the sent priests and Levites.
- Matthew 3:1-6 (thematic): Parallel account of John’s ministry in the wilderness, baptizing and drawing crowds (including religious leaders), which explains why authorities would investigate his identity.
- Luke 3:15-16 (thematic): People and officials speculate about John's identity and whether he is the Messiah; John clarifies his prophetic/baptizing role, paralleling the identity-question motif.
- Isaiah 40:3 (allusion): OT prophecy of 'a voice crying in the wilderness' later quoted in John 1:23 to define John's mission—background for why his identity is a matter of inquiry.
Alternative generated candidates
- And this was the testimony of John: when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
- And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, 'Who are you?'
John.1.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ωμολογησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ηρνησατο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ωμολογησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- Εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- χριστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- John 1:21 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same interrogation; John again denies messianic identities (Elijah, 'the Prophet'), reinforcing the explicit denial in v.20.
- John 1:26 (verbal): John contrasts his role with the one who comes after him—he baptizes with water while the coming one is greater—underscoring his non‑messianic function.
- Luke 3:15-16 (thematic): Crowds wonder whether John might be the Christ; John denies this indirectly by pointing to one who comes after him who will baptize with the Holy Spirit—same theme of denying messianic status.
- Mark 1:7 (verbal): John explicitly distinguishes himself from the coming one, saying 'He who comes after me is mightier'—a verbal parallel that emphasizes John is not the Messiah.
- Matthew 3:11 (thematic): John's baptism is contrasted with the greater baptism the Messiah will bring; this contrast supports John's non‑messianic claim in John 1:20.
Alternative generated candidates
- He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
- He confessed plainly, and did not deny it; he confessed, 'I am not the Christ.'
John.1.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ηρωτησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον·Τι: PRON,acc,sg,3
- ουν: CONJ
- συ: PRON,nom,sg,2
- Ηλιας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- και: CONJ
- λεγει·Ουκ: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- Ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- προφητης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- συ: PRON,nom,sg,2
- και: CONJ
- απεκριθη·Ου: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Malachi 4:5 (allusion): Prophecy that Elijah will return before the day of the Lord — the background for asking whether John is Elijah.
- Luke 1:17 (allusion): Angelic prediction that John the Baptist will come in the 'spirit and power of Elijah,' linking John to the Elijah expectation.
- Matthew 11:14 (verbal): Jesus explicitly identifies John the Baptist as the Elijah who was to come, directly relating to the question asked in John 1:21.
- Deuteronomy 18:15 (quotation): Moses' promise of 'a prophet like me' underlies the Jewish expectation expressed by 'Are you the Prophet?'
- Acts 3:22 (quotation): Peter cites Deuteronomy's promise of a coming prophet in applying it to Jesus, showing the early Christian interpretation of the 'Prophet' motif referenced in John 1:21.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" and he answered, "No."
- They asked him therefore, 'Who then? Are you Elijah?' He said, 'I am not.' 'Are you the Prophet?' He answered, 'No.'
John.1.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ειπαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- ουν: CONJ
- αυτω·Τις: PRON,dat,sg,m+PRON,nom,sg,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- αποκρισιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δωμεν: VERB,pres,act,sub,1,pl
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- πεμψασιν: PART,aor,act,dat,pl,m
- ημας·τι: PRON,acc,pl,1+PRON,nom,sg,n
- λεγεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- περι: PREP
- σεαυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- John 1:20 (structural): Immediate literary continuation — John’s direct response to the question, where he confesses and denies being the Christ, clarifying his identity.
- John 1:23 (quotation): John’s explicit answer to the inquiry, quoting Isaiah 40:3 ('a voice crying in the wilderness') as his self-description.
- Isaiah 40:3 (quotation): The prophetic source John cites to define his role; the wording is quoted in John’s reply and grounds the interrogation in prophetic expectation.
- Luke 3:15 (thematic): Parallel report that the crowds were wondering whether John might be the Christ or a prophet — same issue of identifying John’s role in salvation-history.
- Matthew 11:2-3 (thematic): Another episode of identity-questioning: John (from prison) sends disciples to ask Jesus 'Are you the one?' — highlights the recurring theme of queries about messianic identity.
Alternative generated candidates
- So they said to him, "Who then are you? Tell us plainly, that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
- They said to him, 'Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?'
John.1.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εφη·Εγω: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg + PRON,nom,sg,1
- φωνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- βοωντος: PTCP,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ερημω·Ευθυνατε: NOUN,dat,sg,f + VERB,pres,act,inf
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οδον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- καθως: CONJ
- ειπεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- Ησαιας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- προφητης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Isaiah 40:3 (quotation): The exact source John cites — 'A voice cries: Prepare the way of the Lord' is the prophecy he names and echoes.
- Matthew 3:3 (quotation): Matthew explicitly applies Isaiah 40:3 to John the Baptist: 'He is the one called...
- Mark 1:2-3 (quotation): Mark combines earlier prophetic texts (Malachi and Isaiah) to present John as the foretold messenger: 'Behold, I send my messenger... a voice crying in the wilderness.'
- Luke 3:4-6 (quotation): Luke directly quotes Isaiah 40:3–5 in describing John's mission to prepare the Lord’s way, expanding the theme to universal salvation.'
- Malachi 3:1 (allusion): Foretells a messenger who will prepare the way for the Lord; NT writers link this with Isaiah 40 and with John the Baptist's role.
Alternative generated candidates
- He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" just as the prophet Isaiah said.
- He said, 'I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord," as Isaiah the prophet said.'
John.1.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- απεσταλμενοι: VERB,perf,pas,part,nom,pl,m
- ησαν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,pl
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- Φαρισαιων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- John 1:19 (structural): Immediate context: earlier verse stating that the Jews sent priests and Levites to question John — this verse specifies that those sent were from the Pharisees, continuing the same episode.
- John 1:6 (thematic): Contrasting motif of 'being sent': John is described as 'sent from God,' which contrasts with the human emissaries 'sent from the Pharisees' who come to question him.
- John 18:3 (thematic): Later Johannine scene where men and officers are sent by the chief priests and Pharisees to arrest Jesus — parallels the pattern of Pharisaic authorities dispatching agents.
- John 11:57 (allusion): After the raising of Lazarus the chief priests and Pharisees issue orders to locate Jesus so he might be seized — another instance of Pharisaic initiative to send or command agents against a prophetic figure.
Alternative generated candidates
- (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)
- Now those who had been sent were from the Pharisees.
John.1.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ηρωτησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ειπαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- αυτω·Τι: PRON,dat,3,sg
- ουν: CONJ
- βαπτιζεις: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- συ: PRON,nom,sg,2
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- χριστος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- Ηλιας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- προφητης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 18:15,18 (allusion): The expectation of “the prophet” like Moses (a future authoritative prophet) underlies the question whether John is ‘the prophet.’ The Jews’ query echoes Deut 18’s promise of a coming prophet.
- Malachi 4:5-6 (allusion): Malachi’s prophecy that Elijah will return before the day of the LORD forms the background for asking if John is Elijah; John denies being Elijah here even as the tradition expects an Elijah-like forerunner.
- Malachi 3:1 (allusion): The image of a messenger preparing the way for the Lord parallels why people ask about John’s identity (Christ, Elijah, or prophet) — John functions as the preparatory figure promised in Malachi.
- Isaiah 40:3 (quotation): Isaiah’s ‘voice crying in the wilderness’ is applied elsewhere in the Gospels to John as the forerunner; the question about his identity relates to this prophetic role of preparing the way.
- Luke 1:17 (verbal): The angel’s announcement that John will go ‘in the spirit and power of Elijah’ directly connects John with the Elijah expectation cited by the questioners, even though John later denies being Elijah in person.
Alternative generated candidates
- And they asked him, "Why then do you baptize, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
- They asked him, 'Why then do you baptize, if you are neither the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?'
John.1.26 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- απεκριθη: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- αυτοις: PRO,dat,pl,3
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιωαννης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- λεγων·Εγω: PARTCP,pres,act,nom,sg,m+PRON,nom,sg,1
- βαπτιζω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- εν: PREP
- υδατι·μεσος: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- υμων: PRON,gen,pl,2
- εστηκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ον: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- υμεις: PRON,nom,pl,2
- ουκ: PART,neg
- οιδατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
Parallels
- Matthew 3:11 (quotation): Contains the same declaration 'I baptize with water' and immediately contrasts John's water baptism with the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit (and fire).
- Luke 3:16 (quotation): Parallel wording to Matthew 3:11—John insists he baptizes with water and points forward to the coming one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit, echoing the contrast in John 1:26.
- John 1:27 (structural): Immediate continuation of v.26: identifies the 'one standing among you' as the one who comes after John, explaining why John only baptizes with water and is not the Messiah.
- John 1:31 (verbal): John says 'I did not know him,' which echoes the theme of lack of recognition in v.26 ('you do not know him'), highlighting the unexpected presence/identity of Jesus.
- Acts 1:5 (thematic): The early church echoes John's contrast—'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit'—developing the theological significance of John's claim in v.26.
Alternative generated candidates
- John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands one you do not know,
- John answered them, 'I baptize with water; but there stands among you one whom you do not know.'
John.1.27 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- οπισω: ADV
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ερχομενος: PART,pres,mid,nom,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- αξιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- λυσω: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,sg
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ιμαντα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- υποδηματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
Parallels
- Matthew 3:11 (verbal): John speaks of one coming after him who is mightier and of being unworthy to carry/untie his sandals — nearly identical wording and intent about Jesus' superiority and John's humility.
- Mark 1:7-8 (verbal): Mark records John saying the one after him is mightier and that he is not worthy to stoop and untie his sandals, parallel verbal formula and role contrast.
- Luke 3:16 (verbal): Luke preserves the same declaration about the coming one who will baptize with Spirit and fire and repeats John's statement of unworthiness to untie the sandals.
- John 1:15 (structural): Immediate Johannine parallel in the same verse cluster: 'He who comes after me has surpassed me, because he was before me' — echoes 'coming after me' and asserts the other's preeminence.
- John 3:30 (thematic): John's humility before Jesus is thematically linked: 'He must increase; I must decrease,' reflecting the same posture of unworthiness and subordination expressed in John 1:27.
Alternative generated candidates
- the one who comes after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."
- He it is who, coming after me, has been preferred before me; I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal.
John.1.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ταυτα: PRON,acc,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- Βηθανια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- περαν: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- Ιορδανου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- οπου: ADV,rel
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιωαννης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- βαπτιζων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Matthew 3:13 (thematic): Jesus comes to the Jordan to be baptized by John—connects John’s baptizing activity with the Jordan location.
- Mark 1:4-5 (thematic): Marks John’s ministry of baptism in the wilderness/Jordan and the crowds that came to him, paralleling the setting and activity.
- Luke 3:3 (thematic): Luke places John’s preaching and baptism 'in the region about the Jordan,' a parallel geographic description of his ministry.
- John 3:23 (structural): Same Gospel gives a different specific locale for John’s baptizing (Aenon near Salim), offering a related geographical detail within Johannine narrative.
- Isaiah 40:3 (quotation): The prophetic 'voice crying in the wilderness' is applied to John the Baptist, linking his wilderness/beyond‑Jordan ministry to prophetic fulfillment.
Alternative generated candidates
- These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
- These things took place at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
This is the testimony of John. The Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, 'Who are you?'
He confessed and did not deny it; he confessed, 'I am not the Christ.'
They asked him, 'What then? Are you Elijah?' He said, 'I am not.' 'Are you the Prophet?' He answered, 'No.' So they said to him, 'Who are you? Tell us, so we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?'
He said, 'I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said. Now those who had been sent were from the Pharisees.
They asked him, 'Why then do you baptize, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?'
John answered them, 'I baptize with water; but among you stands one you do not know.'
'He it is who comes after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandal.'
These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.