Luke 3 · a question people ask
John says, "He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire" (3:16). What is the fire?
Luke doesn't say, and John doesn't explain it in these verses. He speaks of fire three times. Of the tree: "Every tree therefore that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (3:9). Of the one who comes after him: "He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire" (3:16). And of the chaff: "he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire" (3:17). Luke doesn't say whether the fire of 3:16 is the same as the fire of 3:9 or 3:17. Mark and Matthew give John's saying in their own words: "he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit" (Mark 1:8), and "He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit" (Matthew 3:11). Favor's Mark 1 sets the sayings side by side in its go-deeper "He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit". Luke gives no more of what John meant, and these notes don't say what the fire is.
The verses
“Even now the ax also lies at the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.””
“John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.””
“I baptized you in water, but he will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.””
““I indeed baptize you in water for repentance, but he who comes after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit.”