3:3a
In 3:3, Luke told what John did in response to God speaking to him in the previous verse (3:2). Some ways to connect these verses in English are:
Then John went (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
So John went (Good News Translation)
-or-
And he went (Revised English Bible)
This verse begins with a conjunction in Greek that is often translated as “and.” Here it may indicate that John went into the region around the Jordan River in response to the “word” that “came” to him from God. To show this, some versions (such as the Contemporary English Version) translate this conjunction as “So.” But in some languages, a conjunction may not be needed (as in the Berean Standard Bible). Introduce what John did in a way that is natural in your language.
He went into all the region around the Jordan: Some English versions, such as the New International Version, say “country” here instead of region. John was preaching in the general area around the Jordan River. Some other ways to say this are:
He went all over the area around the Jordan River (New Century Version)
-or-
John traveled throughout the region around the Jordan River. (God’s Word)
-or-
Then John went from place to place on both sides of the Jordan River (New Living Translation (2004))
3:3b
preaching: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates here as preaching means to tell people something important publicly. John was proclaiming God’s message to the crowds who came to listen. Some other ways to translate preaching in this context are:
announcing
-or-
proclaiming
-or-
declaring
-or-
telling people
In some languages it may be natural to start a new clause or sentence here. For example:
He told people about (God’s Word)
3:3c
a baptism of repentance: The phrase a baptism of repentance means “a baptism that shows repentance.” Baptism was a way for people to show that they were changing their sinful attitudes and actions.
John was telling people to repent and be baptized. So in some languages it may be necessary to reverse the order of the actions. For example:
repent and be baptized
The phrase a baptism of repentance expresses the content of John’s preaching (3:3b). In some languages it may be necessary to use direct speech here. For example:
telling the people, “Turn back to God and be baptized…” (Contemporary English Version)
In some languages it may not be natural or even possible to use the passive verb “be baptized.” In those languages it may be possible to say:
repent and I will baptize you
baptism: The word baptism refers to a ceremonial washing to purify someone or something. In this context baptism is connected to a person being purified from sin. It is an initiation into a new spiritual condition.
You should translate the noun baptism in a similar way as you translate the verb “baptize.” Here are some ways to translate baptism:
• Use a descriptive phrase:
sacred washing
-or-
purification/initiation ⌊for God⌋
-or-
entering water
• Use a term for a similar ritual that is already part of your culture. You may need to indicate that in this context it has a special connection with God. For example:
God’s ceremonial bath
-or-
initiation washing for God
• Use a term that is already accepted by the local churches. In some areas this term may have been borrowed from the national language or transliterated from Greek or English.
In some languages you may need to use a verb to translate baptism. For example:
⌊ritually⌋ wash/clean
-or-
initiate ⌊people⌋ in/with water
-or-
purify people in God’s ceremonial bath
See baptize, Meaning 1, in the Glossary.
repentance: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as repentance means “a change of a person’s mind, heart, or will.” In the Bible it refers specifically to a change of mind and heart about sin and about God. The person who repents is sorry for his past sins. He decides to stop sinning and to obey God.
Some ways to translate repentance are:
changing heart/mind
-or-
rejecting sin
In some languages, you may have an idiom for this type of change. For example:
turning from sin to God
-or-
leaving sin behind
In some languages it may be more natural to translate repentance here with an independent verb or verb phrase. For example:
turn from sin
-or-
reject sin and obey God
for the forgiveness of sins: The phrase for the forgiveness of sins indicates purpose. People needed to repent and be baptized so that they would receive forgiveness of sins. In some languages it may be necessary to translate the noun forgiveness as a verb and provide a subject:
so that ⌊God⌋ will forgive ⌊your⌋ sins
-or-
so that ⌊God⌋ will forgive ⌊them for their⌋ sins
forgiveness of sins: The phrase forgiveness of sins means that God chooses not to punish a person for the evil things that he has done and thought. God cancels the guilt of the person and treats him as if he had never sinned. Some ways to translate forgiveness of sins are:
canceling sins
-or-
erasing guilt
-or-
releasing from punishment for sins
In some languages it may be necessary to translate the noun forgiveness with an independent verb. Some ways to do this are:
erase guilt
-or-
wipe away sins
In some languages there may be an idiom for forgiveness of sins.
In some languages, it is more natural to say “forgive people,” rather than to “forgive sins.” For example:
forgive/pardon ⌊people⌋ for their sins
See forgive in Key Biblical Terms.
sins: The word sins refers to offenses against God or another person. These sins include acts, thoughts, and attitudes that are not what God wants or approves. A person can also offend God by not doing what God wants him to do.
Try to translate sins with a term that can include any wrongdoing against God. Here are problems to avoid:
(a) The term should not imply that only serious crimes like murder or stealing are sins. Other offenses like gossip and greed are also sins.
(b) The term should not include accidents or mistakes that are not against God’s will.
Some ways to translate sins are:
wrong acts
-or-
offenses ⌊against God⌋
-or-
evil deeds
In some languages it may be natural to translate sins with a phrase that includes a verb. For example:
wrong things that they have done
General Comment on 3:3a–c
In some languages it may be more natural to use direct speech:
John went preaching to people in all the country around the Jordan River. He said, “You must repent and be baptized so that God will forgive your sins.”
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