SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:4
Bautizaba Juan en el desierto, y predicaba el bautismo del arrepentimiento para remisin de pecados.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Mark 1:4
Verse 4. John] The original name is nearly lost in the Greek iwannhv, and in the Latin Johannes, and almost totally so in the English John. The original name is njwhy Yehochanan, compounded of nj hwhy Yehovah chanan, the grace or mercy of Jehovah: a most proper and significant name for the forerunner of the God of ALL GRACE. It was John's business to proclaim the Gospel of the grace of God, and to point out that Lamb or sacrifice of God which takes away the sin of the world. For the remission of sins.] Or, toward the remission-eiv afesin. They were to repent, and be baptized in reference to the remission of sins.
REPENTANCE prepared the soul for it, and BAPTISM was the type or pledge of it. See on Matt. iii. 2.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. John did baptize in the wilderness , etc..] Of Judea, ( Matthew 3:1), where he first appeared as a preacher; and is the same wilderness Isaiah has respect to in the above prophecy, ( Isaiah 40:3). The words are best rendered in the Vulgate Latin and Syriac versions; John was in the wilderness, baptizing and preaching the baptism of repentance, for the remission of sins: according to which, the account of the Baptist begins with his name, John; describes the place where he was where he made his first appearance, and continued in, the wilderness; which was not a wild uninhabited place and without people, but had many cities, towns, and villages in it; and also declares his work and ministry there, which was preaching and baptizing: for though baptizing is here put before preaching, yet certain it is, that he first came preaching in these parts; and there baptized such, to whom his preaching was made useful. Baptism is here called, the baptism of repentance : because John required repentance antecedent to it, and administered it upon profession of repentance, and as an open testification of it; and this for , or unto the remission of sins : not for the obtaining the remission of sins, as if either repentance, or baptism, were the causes of pardon of sin; but the sense is, that John preached that men should repent of their sins, and believe in Christ, who was to come; and upon their repentance and faith, be baptized; in which ordinance, they might be led to a fresh view of the free and full forgiveness of their sins, through Christ; whose blood was to be shed for many, to obtain it: (see Acts 2:38).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-8 - Isaiah and Malachi each spake concerning the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the ministry of John. From these prophets we ma observe, that Christ, in his gospel, comes among us, bringing with his a treasure of grace, and a sceptre of government. Such is the corruption of the world, that there is great opposition to his progress. When God sent his Son into the world, he took care, and when he sends him into the heart, he takes care, to prepare his way befor him. John thinks himself unworthy of the meanest office about Christ The most eminent saints have always been the most humble. They fee their need of Christ's atoning blood and sanctifying Spirit, more tha others. The great promise Christ makes in his gospel to those who have repented, and have had their sins forgiven them, is, they shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost; shall be purified by his graces, an refreshed by his comforts. We use the ordinances, word, and sacrament without profit and comfort, for the most part, because we have not of that Divine light within us; and we have it not because we ask it not for we have his word that cannot fail, that our heavenly Father wil give this light, his Holy Spirit, to those that ask it.
Greek Textus Receptus
εγενετο 1096 5633 V-2ADI-3S ιωαννης 2491 N-NSM βαπτιζων 907 5723 V-PAP-NSM εν 1722 PREP τη 3588 T-DSF ερημω 2048 A-DSF και 2532 CONJ κηρυσσων 2784 5723 V-PAP-NSM βαπτισμα 908 N-ASN μετανοιας 3341 N-GSF εις 1519 PREP αφεσιν 859 N-ASF αμαρτιων 266 N-GPF
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. John did baptize (egeneto Iwannhv o baptizwn). Lit., John came to pass or arose who baptized. Rev., John came who baptized.Baptism of repentance (baptisma metanoiav). A baptism the characteristic of which was repentance; which involved an obligation to repent. We should rather expect Mark to put this in the more dramatic form used by Matthew: Saying, Repent ye!
Robertson's NT Word Studies
1:4 {John came} (egeneto iwanes). His coming was an epoch (egeneto), not a mere event (en). His coming was in accordance with the prophetic picture (kaqws, #1:2). Note the same verb about John in #Joh 1:6. The coming of John the Baptizer was the real beginning of the spoken message about Christ. He is described as {the baptizing one} (ho haptizwn) in the wilderness (en tei eremwi). The baptizing took place in the River Jordan (#Mr 1:5,9) which was included in the general term the wilderness or the deserted region of Judea. {Preached the baptism of repentance} (kerusswn baptisma metanoias). Heralded a repentance kind of baptism (genitive case, genus case), a baptism marked by repentance. See on Mt 3:2 for discussion of repent, an exceedingly poor rendering of John's great word metanoias. He called upon the Jews to change their minds and to turn from their sins, "confessing their sins" (exomologoumenoi tas hamartias autwn). See #Mt 3:16. The public confessions produced a profound impression as they would now. {Unto remission of sins} (eis afesin hamartiwn). this is a difficult phrase to translate accurately. Certainly John did not mean that the baptism was the means of obtaining the forgiveness of their sins or necessary to the remission of sins. The trouble lies in the use of eis which sometimes is used when purpose is expressed, but sometimes when there is no such idea as in #Mt 10:41 and #Mt 12:41. Probably "with reference to" is as good a translation here as is possible. The baptism was on the basis of the repentance and confession of sin and, as Paul later explained (#Ro 6:4), was a picture of the death to sin and resurrection to new life in Christ. this symbol was already in use by the Jews for convert who became Jews. John is treating the Jewish nation as pagans who need to repent, to confess their sins, and to come back to the kingdom of God. The baptism in the Jordan was the objective challenge to the people.
