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LUKE 3:16 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Luke 3:15Luke 3:17
“John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:”
John answered them all, I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire — the water/Spirit-and-fire contrast explains the relationship between John's baptism and Jesus' baptism. The more powerful one renders John unworthy even for the lowest slave's task. The Holy Spirit and fire baptism fulfills Joel 2:28–29 at Pentecost and the eschatological purification of Malachi 3:2–3.

Church Fathers on Luke 3:16

It was meet that more deference should be paid to John than to other men, for he lived such as no other man. Wherefore indeed most rightly did they regard him with affection, only they kept not within due bounds; hence it is said, But while the people were expecting whether he were the Christ.

Origen · 3rd century

Now what could be more absurd than that he who was fancied to be in another should not be believed in his own person? He whom they thought to have come by a woman, is not believed to have come by a virgin; while in fact the sign of the Divine coming was placed in tile childbearing of a virgin, not of a woman

Ambrose · 4th century

And hence, John gloried not in the estimation in which all held him, nor in any way seemed to desire the deference of others, but embraced the lowest humility. Hence it follows, John answered.

GREEK EX ·
Read all 22 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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Luke 3:16 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy