(though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples),
Parallel translations
- WEB (although Jesus himself didn’t baptize, but his disciples),
- KJV (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
- BSB (although it was not Jesus who baptized, but His disciples),
- NASB (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing; rather, His disciples were),
- NLT (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did).
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John clarifies that Jesus himself did not baptize; his disciples did. This precise correction guards against misunderstanding the earlier report.
Overview
The parenthetical detail shows the evangelist's care for accuracy. It does not diminish Jesus' ministry but explains the mechanics of how the baptizing was carried out. The clarification keeps attention on Jesus' authority while the disciples acted on his behalf.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- 1 Cor 1:13–17Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized into the name of Paul?
- Acts 10:48He commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay some days.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
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Original language
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