John the Baptist Prepares the Way
Mark 1:1-8
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Mark.1.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Αρχη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ευαγγελιου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- John 1:1 (verbal): Both open with the concept of a 'beginning' (John: 'In the beginning was the Word'); Mark's 'The beginning of the gospel' echoes cosmic/primordial language to frame Jesus' story.
- Genesis 1:1 (allusion): Genesis 1:1 ('In the beginning...') supplies the OT 'beginning' motif that Mark invokes to present the gospel as the start of a new creation-era in Christ.
- Luke 1:1-4 (structural): Luke's formal prologue announces the author's intent to compose an orderly account of Jesus' life—parallels Mark's opening formula that functions as a gospel title and literary introduction.
- Romans 1:1-4 (thematic): Paul's opening statement about 'the gospel of God concerning his Son' parallels Mark's summary phrase, linking the gospel's content to Jesus' identity as Christ/son.
- Mark 1:14-15 (thematic): Within Mark himself, the proclamation 'The time is fulfilled; the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel' develops what the opening title announces—the gospel's content and call.
Alternative generated candidates
- The beginning of the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
- The beginning of the gospel concerning Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Mark.1.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Καθως: CONJ
- γεγραπται: VERB,perf,pass,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Ησαια: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- προφητη·Ιδου: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- αποστελλω: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αγγελον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- προ: PREP
- προσωπου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- σου: PRON,gen,sg,2
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- κατασκευασει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οδον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- σου·: PRON,gen,sg,2
Parallels
- Malachi 3:1 (quotation): Mark's wording (“Behold, I send my messenger…who will prepare your way”) directly echoes Malachi's prophecy about a messenger sent before the Lord.
- Exodus 23:20 (verbal): OT language of God sending an angel/messenger before his people ('I will send an angel before you') likely informs Mark's blended citation of a forerunner motif.
- Malachi 4:5 (3:23 in Hebrew numbering) (allusion): The expectation that God will send Elijah/the prophet before the day of the Lord is part of the Malachi tradition that Mark invokes in identifying a preparatory figure (John the Baptist).
- Isaiah 40:3 (quotation): The immediately following verse in Mark (1:3) quotes Isaiah's 'voice crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord,' and Mark frames both texts as fulfillment language for the forerunner.
- Matthew 11:10 (quotation): Jesus (and Matthew) cite the same Malachi wording to identify John the Baptist as the prophesied messenger/forerunner, providing a clear NT parallel to Mark's use of the text.
Alternative generated candidates
- As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way."
- As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way;"
Mark.1.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- φωνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- βοωντος: PTCP,pres,act,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ερημω·Ετοιμασατε: NOUN,dat,sg,f; VERB,aor,act,imp,2,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οδον: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ευθειας: ADJ,acc,pl,f
- ποιειτε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- τριβους: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Isaiah 40:3 (quotation): The source of Mark’s words: ‘a voice crying in the wilderness… Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths’ is directly quoted from Isaiah 40:3.
- Matthew 3:3 (verbal): Matthew records the identical Isaianic citation in the context of John the Baptist, using the same language about preparing the Lord’s way.
- Luke 3:4 (verbal): Luke likewise quotes Isaiah 40:3 in his account of John’s ministry, with wording parallel to Mark’s quotation.
- John 1:23 (quotation): John the Baptist explicitly applies Isaiah’s line to himself, saying ‘I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness,’ thereby echoing the same prophetic source.
- Malachi 3:1 (allusion): Mark 1:2–3 combines Malachi’s announcement of a messenger who will prepare the way with Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 3:1 functions as the paired prophetic background.
Alternative generated candidates
- The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."
- a voice crying out in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight."
Mark.1.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εγενετο: VERB,aor,mid,ind,3,sg
- Ιωαννης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- βαπτιζων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- ερημω: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- κηρυσσων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- βαπτισμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- μετανοιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εις: PREP
- αφεσιν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αμαρτιων: NOUN,gen,pl,f
Parallels
- Matthew 3:1-6 (verbal): Parallel Gospel account: John the Baptist in the wilderness preaching and administering a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins; closely parallels Mark's wording and sequence.
- Luke 3:3 (verbal): Luke's parallel description: John went into the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins—same core claim as Mark 1:4.
- Isaiah 40:3 (quotation): Mark situates John in the prophetic tradition by citing Isaiah's 'voice crying in the wilderness' as preparation for the Lord; it frames John's ministry as fulfillment of prophecy.
- John 1:19-23 (thematic): John the Baptist identified as the 'voice crying in the wilderness' and affirmed as herald of one coming after him; thematically parallels Mark's portrayal of John's role and setting.
- Acts 19:4 (allusion): Paul's summary of John's ministry — 'John baptized with the baptism of repentance' and pointed to the one coming after him (Jesus) — echoes Mark's description of John's purpose and message.
Alternative generated candidates
- John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
- John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Mark.1.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εξεπορευετο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,sg
- προς: PREP
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- πασα: ADJ,nom,sg,f
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- Ιουδαια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- χωρα: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- οι: ART,nom,pl,m
- Ιεροσολυμιται: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- παντες: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εβαπτιζοντο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,pl
- υπ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- Ιορδανη: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- ποταμω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- εξομολογουμενοι: PART,pres,act,nom,pl,m
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- αμαρτιας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
Parallels
- Matthew 3:5-6 (verbal): Near-duplicate account: crowds from Judea and Jerusalem come to John and are baptized in the Jordan, confessing sins (parallel wording and scene).
- Luke 3:3 (thematic): Luke describes John proclaiming a baptism of repentance in the region around the Jordan—same purpose and setting (repentance and baptism).
- John 1:28 (structural): Locates John's activity 'beyond the Jordan' where he was baptizing—corroborates the geographic context of John’s baptizing ministry in Mark.1:5.
- John 3:23 (structural): Notes that John was baptizing (in Aenon) and that people were coming to be baptized—another Synoptic/Johnian witness to crowds receiving John's baptism.
- Acts 19:4-5 (thematic): Reflects the significance of John's baptism and its association with repentance and conversion: Paul re-baptizes those who had received only John's baptism, highlighting the baptism-for-repentance motif seen in Mark 1:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- And all the region of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him; and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
- And all the country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him; and they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
Mark.1.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ιωαννης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ενδεδυμενος: PART,perf,mp,nom,sg,m
- τριχας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- καμηλου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ζωνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δερματινην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- περι: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- οσφυν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εσθων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- ακριδας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- και: CONJ
- μελι: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αγριον: ADJ,acc,sg,n
Parallels
- 2 Kings 1:8 (verbal): Describes Elijah (or a man like Elijah) as 'a man with hair like goats' and 'girt with a leather belt about his loins,' a clear verbal/imagistic source for John's camel-hair clothing and leather girdle.
- Matthew 3:4 (verbal): Synoptic parallel: Matthew gives virtually the same description of John the Baptist's clothing (camel's hair, leather belt) and diet (locusts and wild honey).
- Luke 1:17 (allusion): The angel's prophecy that John will go 'in the spirit and power of Elijah' links John's ascetic appearance and role to the Elijah tradition alluded to in Mark 1:6.
- Malachi 4:5 (thematic): Malachi's promise that God will send Elijah before the 'great and dreadful day' provides the prophetic background for identifying John as an Elijah-like forerunner.
- Matthew 11:14 (thematic): Jesus' affirmation that John 'is Elijah who is to come' thematically explains why John's clothing and diet echo the prophetic/Elijah tradition described in Mark 1:6.
Alternative generated candidates
- John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt about his waist; and he ate locusts and wild honey.
- Now John was clothed with camel's hair and a leather belt about his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
Mark.1.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- εκηρυσσεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- λεγων·Ερχεται: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,m,sg+VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ισχυροτερος: ADJ,nom,sg,m,comp
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- οπισω: ADV
- μου: PRON,gen,sg,1
- ου: PART,neg
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ειμι: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,sg
- ικανος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- κυψας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- λυσαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ιμαντα: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- υποδηματων: NOUN,gen,pl,n
- αυτου·: PRON,gen,sg,3
Parallels
- Matthew 3:11 (verbal): Nearly identical declaration by John the Baptist: announces one 'mightier' coming and states he is not worthy to carry/untie his sandals (same imagery and wording).
- Luke 3:16 (verbal): Luke’s parallel account uses the same language about one coming after John who is greater and about baptism with the Spirit and fire, echoing the 'mightier' motif and formulaic confession of unworthiness.
- John 1:27 (quotation): John explicitly repeats the sandal-untie formula: 'He who comes after me... I am not worthy to untie his sandals,' a direct verbal echo that ties the Baptist’s testimony across the Gospels.
- John 3:30 (thematic): John’s humble subordination to the one who comes after him ('He must increase; I must decrease') parallels Mark’s emphasis on the successor's superiority and the Baptist’s humility.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he preached, saying, "After me comes one mightier than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
- And he preached, saying, "After me comes one more powerful than I—so powerful that I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals."
Mark.1.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- εβαπτισα: VERB,aor,act,ind,1,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- υδατι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- δε: CONJ
- βαπτισει: VERB,fut,act,ind,3,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- εν: PREP
- πνευματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- αγιω: ADJ,dat,sg,n
Parallels
- Matthew 3:11 (verbal): Nearly identical saying of John the Baptist: he baptizes with water but the coming one will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire (same contrast between water baptism and Spirit baptism).
- Luke 3:16 (verbal): Luke records the same declaration by John the Baptist that he baptizes with water while the Messiah will baptize with the Holy Spirit, paralleling Mark's wording and theme.
- John 1:33 (allusion): John the Baptist testifies that the one who comes (identified by the Spirit descending) will baptize with the Holy Spirit—an independent witness to the Markan claim about Spirit baptism.
- Acts 1:5 (quotation): Jesus tells the disciples that John baptized with water but they will be baptized with the Holy Spirit, directly echoing and applying the Markan/Johnan contrast to the coming Pentecost.
- Acts 11:16 (quotation): Peter cites Jesus’ wording—'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit'—when explaining the outpouring of the Spirit on Gentiles, explicitly linking Mark’s statement to Acts’ narrative of Spirit baptism.
Alternative generated candidates
- I baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
- I baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way.'
A voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him; they were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.
John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt about his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, 'After me comes one who is mightier than I—so much so that I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals.'
I baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.