The Skeptics Annotated Bible (731 page)

3
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

4 And the same John had his raiment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

5 Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

6 And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

(3.6) “Were baptized of him in Jordan”
333 Where did John baptize?

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

(3.7a-11)
“When he saw many of the Pharisees … come to his baptism he said unto them … I indeed baptize you with water.”
334 Were the Pharisees baptized by John?

(3.7b)
“O generation of vipers.”
While insulting the Pharisees and Sadducees, John the Baptist calls an entire generation a “generation of vipers.” (Jesus also liked to use this term. See 12.34)

8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:

9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.

(3.10-12) Those who bear bad fruit will be cut down and burned “with unquenchable fire.”

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

(3.10)
“Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.”

11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

(3.12)
“He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

(3.14-15) John has a good point in v.14. If Jesus is the sinless Son of God, then shouldn't Jesus be baptizing John instead of the reverse? Isn't baptism supposed to forgive sins and be a sign of repentance? If so, then why would Jesus need to be baptized? And what the heck is “it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness” supposed to mean?

14 But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

(3.14)
“John forbad him, saying … comest thou to me?”

15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

(3.15)
“Jesus … said … it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.”

16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:

17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

(3.17)
“This is my beloved son”
335 How did God address Jesus at his baptism?

4
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

(4.1)
“Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”
Jesus is led by the Spirit of God to be tempted by the devil. Which, at least according to James 1.13 (“God cannot be tempted with evil.”), means that Jesus is not God.