Medium (20-45 mins)
New Testament
AnglicanEvangelical
The Old Testament background to the baptism of Jesus in Matt 3
Theologian
Ian Paul
Duration
29.44
Uploaded to YouTube
3 January 2023
Added to Database
12 November 2025
YouTube description
Matthew's account of Jesus' baptism (the gospel reading for Epiphany 1 in Year A) includes elements that the other gospels omit, and yet is still quite short. Yet it is densely packed with allusions to the Old Testament.
James and Ian explore the significance of these, and how spotting them might shape our reading and preaching on this passage on the First Sunday of Epiphany.
For discussion of the preceding verses, which set the context, see this article: https://www.psephizo.com/biblical-studies/john-the-baptist-jesus-and-judgement-in-matthew-3/
