Mark 1:8 kjv
I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
Mark 1:8 nkjv
I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Mark 1:8 niv
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Mark 1:8 esv
I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Mark 1:8 nlt
I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!"
Mark 1 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 44:3 | For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams... I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing... | Prophecy of God's Spirit being poured out. |
| Joel 2:28 | And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh... | Prophecy of universal Spirit outpouring. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me..." | Forerunner preparing for the Lord. |
| Matt 3:11 | "I baptize you with water for repentance, but He... will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." | Parallels John's contrast, adds 'fire'. |
| Lk 3:16 | John answered them all, saying, "I baptize you with water, but He who is mightier than I... He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." | Luke's version, same core message. |
| Jn 1:26-27 | John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands one you do not know... He it is who comes after me..." | John acknowledges his subordinate role. |
| Jn 1:33 | "I myself did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend... this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.'" | God revealed Jesus' identity as Spirit-baptizer to John. |
| Acts 1:5 | For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now." | Jesus directly recalls John's words, promising Spirit baptism. |
| Acts 2:1-4 | When the day of Pentecost arrived... they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues... | Fulfillment of Spirit baptism at Pentecost. |
| Acts 2:16-18 | But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel... 'I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh...' | Peter connects Pentecost to Joel's prophecy. |
| Acts 10:44-47 | While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word... "Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?" | Gentiles receiving Spirit, confirming validity without prior water baptism. |
| Acts 11:15-16 | As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said, 'John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' | Peter recounts the promise and its fulfillment for Gentiles. |
| Acts 19:1-5 | Paul found some disciples. And he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" ...they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. | Disciples of John receiving Spirit baptism upon belief in Jesus. |
| Jer 31:31-34 | "Behold, days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant... I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it..." | Prophecy of the New Covenant, internal transformation tied to Spirit. |
| Eze 36:26-27 | "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you... And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes..." | God promises an indwelling Spirit for obedience. |
| 1 Cor 12:13 | For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body... and all made to drink of one Spirit. | Spirit baptism unites believers into the body of Christ. |
| Tit 3:5 | He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit... | Spirit as agent of regeneration and renewal. |
| Jn 3:5-6 | Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." | Spiritual birth through water (often understood as word/baptism/cleansing) and the Spirit. |
| Rom 8:9 | You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to Him. | Indwelling Spirit as defining mark of believers. |
| Eph 5:18 | And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit... | Command to continually be filled with the Spirit. |
| Acts 1:8 | But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you... | Spirit gives power for witness. |
| Lk 24:49 | "And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high." | Jesus promises empowerment from above. |
Mark 1 verses
Mark 1 8 Meaning
Mark 1:8 succinctly states the distinct nature and power of Jesus' ministry compared to John the Baptist's. John identifies himself as merely baptizing with water, a symbolic act of repentance. In stark contrast, John proclaims that the coming One, Jesus, will baptize with the Holy Spirit. This highlights Jesus' divine authority and His unique capacity to impart the Spirit, inaugurating a new era of spiritual transformation and empowerment from within, moving beyond external cleansing rituals.
Mark 1 8 Context
Mark 1 begins with the "beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ." John the Baptist appears in the wilderness, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecy of a messenger preparing the way for the Lord (Mal 3:1; Isa 40:3). John's ministry involves preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, attracting people from Jerusalem and Judea. This water baptism was a public acknowledgment of sin and a turning toward God, distinct from typical Jewish ritual washings (mikva'ot) because it was administered once to a person by another, symbolizing a profound individual commitment rather than ritual purity maintenance. Mark 1:8 serves as John's humble self-assessment, contrasting his preparatory role and symbolic action with the immeasurable power and inner transformation that the coming Messiah, Jesus, will bring through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It sets the stage for Jesus' greater identity and divine work, shifting the focus from external washings to an internal, spiritual regeneration and empowerment.
Mark 1 8 Word analysis
- I (ἐγὼ - egō): Pronoun emphasizing John, contrasting his person and action with "He" (Jesus). It underlines John's humility and clarity about his subservient role.
- indeed (μὲν - men): A Greek particle often used to indicate a slight concession or emphasis, setting up a contrast with what follows. It could be rendered "on the one hand."
- baptize (βαπτίζω - baptizō): To immerse, dip, plunge. John's ministry was distinctively marked by this physical act. In its essence, it signified a radical change or identification. Here, it is limited by its element: water.
- you (ὑμᾶς - hymas): Refers to John's audience, those who came out to him for baptism, indicating his direct ministry to a specific group.
- with water (ἐν ὕδατι - en hydati): Literally "in water" or "by water." This signifies the medium of John's baptism—a physical, visible, external act symbolizing purification and repentance. It serves as a stark contrast to the divine element to be introduced.
- but (δὲ - de): A strong adversative conjunction, signifying a definite opposition or contrast between John's action and the coming One's action. It introduces a major qualitative difference.
- He (αὐτὸς - autos): Referring to the coming Messiah, Jesus. John consciously points away from himself and towards this greater, unknown (at this moment) person who is incomparably superior.
- will baptize (βαπτίσει - baptisei): Future tense of baptizō. Indicates a future action by the coming Messiah. The same verb is used, but the nature of the action changes drastically due to the element.
- you (ὑμᾶς - hymas): Still refers to the same general audience, though now speaking prophetically of all who will receive the Messiah's Spirit.
- with the Holy Spirit (ἐν Πνεύματι Ἁγίῳ - en Pneumati Hagiō): Literally "in Holy Spirit" or "by Holy Spirit." This is the transformative element of the Messiah's baptism. It refers to a supernatural, divine, internal indwelling and empowerment by God's own Spirit. This implies an inward cleansing, regeneration, and impartation of spiritual life and power.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- "I indeed baptize you with water": This phrase succinctly defines John's ministry. It is humble ("I"), acknowledged as a preparation (implied by "indeed... but"), directed to a specific audience ("you"), and external ("with water"), symbolizing initial repentance. It reveals the limitations and transitional nature of John's work, a forerunner's task, not the ultimate fulfillment.
- "but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit": This is the heart of the verse, pointing to Jesus' unique redemptive work. The adversative "but" highlights a profound difference. "He" emphasizes Jesus' divine agency. "Will baptize" denotes a future, definitive action, and "with the Holy Spirit" reveals the ultimate, divine, internal, and transformative element. This signifies not just external washing, but inward spiritual rebirth, new life, and empowerment from God. This anticipates the New Covenant reality promised in Old Testament prophets like Ezekiel and Joel.
Mark 1 8 Bonus section
The contrast between water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism is crucial. John's water baptism signified repentance and preparation; it was a human act leading to external confession. The Spirit baptism, administered by Jesus, signifies inner transformation, regeneration, and empowerment. It is God's work, providing the very life and power to live according to His will. This Holy Spirit baptism is generally understood as the moment believers are supernaturally integrated into the body of Christ, a one-time event for salvation. While this verse in Mark focuses on the initial pouring out and new beginning, it points to a deeper relationship with God through the Spirit's indwelling, leading to an empowered life of witness and obedience, distinct from any external ritual. It implicitly contrasts external, symbolic purity with an internal, spiritual cleansing that empowers God's people for a new covenant life.
Mark 1 8 Commentary
Mark 1:8 presents John the Baptist as a pivotal, yet transitional, figure. His ministry, marked by water baptism, called for repentance and outward confession. It was a vital step, but it could only address the external and prepare the way. John humbly but definitively states that his successor, Jesus, would administer a fundamentally different, infinitely greater baptism: one with the Holy Spirit. This promised Spirit-baptism implies a radical, inward work of God. It moves beyond symbolic cleansing to real spiritual regeneration, union with Christ, and divine empowerment, essential for participating in God's new covenant and living a transformed life. This verse highlights Jesus' exclusive power and divine authority to mediate the Holy Spirit, which finds its profound fulfillment at Pentecost (Acts 2), when the Spirit indwelt believers, ushering in the church age.