RE: Why isn't BAPTIZW translated

Carl W. Conrad (cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu)
Thu, 19 Sep 1996 10:26:58 -0500

Is it possible that everybody's feelings would be greatly alleviated if we
translated as follows the following verses, and then consistently did the
same with the rest of the NT? As I recall, the word "dunk" has been used
for the ritual practice and the name "Dunker" even applied to a sect;
wasn't the Dunker Church a pivotal point in the Civil War battle of
Sharpsburg/Antietam? And surely nobody would suppose, if we use the word
"dunk," that we're talking about doughnuts? For myself, however, a
conservative in matters of language if not in matters of theology and
politics, I'll probably just "keep on keeping on" using "baptize" to
translate BAPTIZW.

Mk 1:4 EGENETO IWANNHS [hO] BAPTIZWN EN THi ERHMWi KAI KHRUSSWN BAPTISMA
METANOIAS EIS AFESIN hAMARTIWN. "John appeared in the wilderness [the]
dunking [person] and proclaiming a dunking of repentance for forgiveness of
sins."

Mk 1:8 EGW EBAPTISA hUMAS hUDATI, AUTOS DE BAPTISEI hUMAS EN PNEUMATI
hAGIWi. "I dunked you in water, but he will dunk you in holy spirit."

Mk 1:9 KAI EGENETO EN EKEINAIS TAIS hHMERAIS HLQEN IHSOUS APO NAZARET THS
GALILAIAS KAI EBAPTISQH EIS TON IORDANHN hUPO IWANNOU. "And it turned out
in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was dunked in
the Jordan by John."

Carl W. Conrad
Department of Classics, Washington University
One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO, USA 63130
(314) 935-4018
cwconrad@artsci.wustl.edu OR cwc@oui.com
WWW: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~cwconrad/