Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;

Spoken to: 

Apostles

After Jesus's resurrection, he appears to the eleven.

KJV: 

Mark 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

NIV : 

Mark 16:16  Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

3RD (NLT, if not otherwise identified): 

Mark 16:16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned.

LISTENERS HEARD: 

The one trusting and being dunked will be rescued; the one, however, distrusting will be judged against.

MY TAKE: 

Baptism should create a trust in the face of death before it can be an acceptance of life.

GREEK (Each Word Explained Bottom of Page): 

GREEK ORDER: 

            πιστεύσας καὶ βαπτισθεὶς       σωθήσεται,                   δὲ           ἀπιστήσας κατακριθήσεται.
The one trusting     and being dunked will be rescued; the one, however, distrusting will be judged against.

LOST IN TRANSLATION: 

This verse is omitted from many of the most ancient Greek texts. This verse was not threatening to Jesus's listeners. It was a little humorous. It connects "trust"  with having one's head held underwater when being dunked. Here, this dunking appears to require a high level of trust. This is confirmed by the following verse. The Greek words "trust" and "distrust" also have a sense of "obey" and "disobey" that English doesn't have.

The verb translated as "damned" and "condemned is a verb that means "to judge against" or "decide against." This word doesn't have the sense of being damned to hell at all. It is usually used to mean a judgment in court, but it is also used to reflect a judgment in public opinion. We say, "decide against" while the Greeks said, "decide down." The sense could also be "separated out" or "moved down" in a list of priorities.

# KJV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

9

He that(IW) believeth(CW,WF) and is baptized(UW,WF) shall be saved; but he that(IW) believeth(CW,WF) not shall be damned(CW).

  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "believe" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "believeth" is not an active verb with a subject, but a participle with an article, "the one believing.
  • UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "baptized" means "dunked." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "is baptized" is not an active verb with a subject, but a participle "being dunked."
  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "that" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "believe not" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "believeth not" is not an active verb with a subject, but a participle with an article, "the one disbelieving.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "damned" does not mean "damned to hell" but simply a negative judgment.

# NIV TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

9

Whoever(CW) believes(CW,WF) and is baptized(UW,WF) will be saved, but whoever(CW) does not believe(CW,WF) will be condemned(CW).

  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "whoever."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "believes" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "believes" is not an active verb with a subject, but a participle with an article, "the one believing.
  • UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "baptized" means "dunked." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "is baptized" is not an active verb with a subject, but a participle "being dunked."
  • CW --Confusing Word -- This is not the common word usually translated as "whoever."
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "not believe" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "not believe" is not an active verb with a subject, but a participle with an article, "the one disbelieving.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "condemned" does not mean "condemned to death but simply a negative judgment.

# 3RD TRANSLATION ISSUES: 

9

Anyone(IW) (CW) believes(CW,WF) and is baptized(UW,WF) will be saved. But anyone(IW) who refuses(WW) to(WF) believe(CW)]will be condemned(CW).

  • IW - Inserted Word -- The word "anyone" doesn't exist in the source.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "believe" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "believes" is not an active verb with a subject, but a participle with an article, "the one believing.
  • UW - Untranslated Word -- The word "baptized" means "dunked." It is the untranslated Greek word adopted into English.
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "is baptized" is not an active verb with a subject, but a participle "being dunked."
  • WW - Wrong Word -- The word translated as "refuse" means the prefixes "non-" or "dis."
  • WF - Wrong Form -  The "believe" is not an infinitive but a participle, "disbelieving.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "believe" does not capture the word's specific meaning.
  • CW - Confusing Word -- The "condemned" does not mean "condemned to death but simply a negative judgment.

EACH WORD of KJV : 

He -- The word translated as "he" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one."

that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.

believeth -- (CW, WF) The Greek word translated as "believeth" is the verb. that "to trust, put faith in, or rely on a person", "to believe in someone's words", "to comply", "to feel confident in a thing," and "to entrust in a thing." It is in the form of an adjective, "trusting" or "complying."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

is -- This helping verb indicates the present tense and passive form of the verb.

baptized -- (UW, WF) The Greek word converted to English as "baptized" means "to dip", "to plunge", "to be drenched", "to be drowned," and "getting in deep water." In other words, the word is not translated. "To dunk" comes closest to the feeling.  It is in the form of an adjective, "being dunked."  See this article on the word.

shall  -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

saved; -- "Saved" is the Greek verb that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. Jesus uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases. Since the previous word, "dunk", also means "drowned," the image is rescuing a drowning man. The verb is in the future tense, passive, "is going to be rescued."

but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but", "however", and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.  This word comes after the "he that."

he -- The word translated as "he that" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one."

that -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "that" in the Greek source. It was added because the next verb was translated as active rather than as a participle.

believeth -- (CW, WF) "Believeth not" is a verb that Jesus only uses here in the Gospels. It means "to disbelieve", "to distrust someone's words", " distrust ", "to doubt" and "to disobey."  The form is an adjective, "distrusting" or "disobeying,"

not  - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix. It is not a negative word in the sentence.

shall  -- This helping verb "shall" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

damned. -- (CW) The verb translated as "damned" is a verb that means "to judge against" or "decide against." The verb "judge" primarily means "to separate," as in separating fact from fiction and separating guilty from innocent or separating things in a list of priorities. So the word literally means, "separate down." We say, "decide against" while the Greeks said, "decide down." However, here the sense could also be "separated out" of "moved down" in a list of priorities. This word doesn't have the sense of being damned to hell at all. It is usually used to mean a judgment in court, but it is also used to reflect a judgment in public opinion.

EACH WORD of NIV : 

Whoever -- (CW) The word translated as "whoever" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." It is not the normal way of saying "whoever" in Greek.

believes -- (CW, WF) The Greek word translated as "believes" is the verb. that "to trust, put faith in, or rely on a person", "to believe in someone's words", "to comply", "to feel confident in a thing," and "to entrust in a thing." It is in the form of an adjective, "trusting" or "complying."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

is -- This helping verb indicates the present tense and passive form of the verb.

baptized -- (UW, WF) The Greek word converted to English as "baptized" means "to dip", "to plunge", "to be drenched", "to be drowned," and "getting in deep water." In other words, the word is not translated. "To dunk" comes closest to the feeling.  It is in the form of an adjective, "being dunked."  See this article on the word.

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

saved; -- "Saved" is the Greek verb that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. Jesus uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases. Since the previous word, "dunk", also means "drowned," the image is rescuing a drowning man. The verb is in the future tense, passive, "is going to be rescued."

but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but", "however", and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.  This word comes after the "he that."

whoever -- (CW) The word translated as "whoever" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one." It is not the normal way of saying "whoever" in Greek.

does -- This helping verb is added to make this a negative sentence.

not - This completes the meaning of the verb. It is from the prefix. It is not a negative word in the sentence.

believe -- (CW, WF) "Not believe" is  a verb that Jesus only uses here in the Gospels. It means "to disbelieve", "to disbelieve in someone's words", " distrust ", "to doubt" and "to disobey."  The form is an adjective, "distrusting" or "disobeying,"

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

condemned.  --- (CW) The verb translated as "condemned" is a verb that means "to judge against" or "decide against." The verb "judge" primarily means "to separate," as in separating fact from fiction and separating guilty from innocent or separating things in a list of priorities. So the word literally means, "separate down." We say, "decide against" while the Greeks said, "decide down." However, here the sense could also be "separated out" of "moved down" in a list of priorities. This word doesn't have the sense of being damned to hell at all. It is usually used to mean a judgment in court, but it is also used to reflect a judgment in public opinion.

EACH WORD 3RD (NLT or as noted): 

Anyone -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "anyone" in the Greek source

who -- The word translated as "who" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one."

believes -- (CW, WF) The Greek word translated as "believes" is the verb. that "to trust, put faith in, or rely on a person", "to believe in someone's words", "to comply", "to feel confident in a thing," and "to entrust in a thing." It is in the form of an adjective, "trusting" or "complying."

and -- The Greek word translated as "and" is used as the conjunction "and", but it also is used to add emphasis ("also").

is -- This helping verb indicates the present tense and passive form of the verb.

baptized -- (UW, WF) The Greek word converted to English as "baptized" means "to dip", "to plunge", "to be drenched", "to be drowned," and "getting in deep water." In other words, the word is not translated. "To dunk" comes closest to the feeling.  It is in the form of an adjective, "being dunked."  See this article on the word.

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

saved; -- "Saved" is the Greek verb that means "to keep alive" when applied to people or "to keep safe" when applied to things. Jesus uses it to mean "rescue" in most cases. Since the previous word, "dunk", also means "drowned," the image is rescuing a drowning man. The verb is in the future tense, passive, "is going to be rescued."

but -- The Greek word translated as "but" means "but", "however", and "on the other hand". Since it always falls in the second position, translating it as "however" often captures its feeling better.  This word comes after the "he that."

anyone -- -- (IW) There is nothing that can be translated as "anyone" in the Greek source.

who The word translated as "who" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one."

refuses--  (WW) This negative verb is from the negative prefix of the verb. As a negative is words with the Greek negative of opinion, but that is not the negative here because "disbelief" doesn't necessarily mean a refusal to believe.

to -- (WF)  This is added to make the following verb an infinitive but it is a participle.

believe - (CW) -"Believe" is a verb that Jesus only uses here in the Gospels. It means "to disbelieve", "to disbelieve in someone's words", " distrust ", "to doubt" and "to disobey."  The form is an adjective, "distrusting" or "disobeying,"

will -- This helping verb "will" indicates that the verb is the future tense. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

be -- This helping verb "be" indicates that the verb is passive. Helping or auxiliary verbs are needed to translate the Greek verb forms into English.

condemned. -- The verb translated as "condemned" is a verb that means "to judge against" or "decide against." We say, "decide against" while the Greeks said, "decide down." This word doesn't have the sense of being damned to hell at all. It is usually used to mean a judgment in court, but it is also used to reflect a judgment in public opinion.

COMPARISON: GREEK to KJV : 

ὁ [821 verses] ( article sg masc nom) "He that" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --

πιστεύσας [69 verses] ( part sg aor act masc nom ) "Believeth" is pisteuo, which means "to trust, put faith in, or rely on a person", "to believe in someone's words", "to comply", "to feel confident in a thing," and "to entrust in a thing."

καὶ [1089 verses](conj/adv) "And" is kai, which is the conjunction joining phrases and clauses, "and," or "but." After words implying sameness, "as" (the same opinion as you). Used in series, joins positive with negative "Not only...but also." Also used to give emphasis, "even", "also," and "just." --

βαπτισθεὶς [8 verses]( part sg aor pass masc nom ) "Is baptized" is baptizo, which means "to dip", "to plunge", "to be drenched", "to be drowned," and "getting in deep water."

σωθήσεται, [25 verse]( verb 3rd sg fut ind pass ) "Shall be saved" is sozo (soizo), which means "save from death", "keep alive", "keep safe", "preserve", "maintain", "keep in mind", "carry off safely," and "rescue." --

[821 verses]( article sg masc nom) "He that" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones." --

δὲ [446 verses]((conj/adv) "But" is de which means "but" and "on the other hand." It is the particle that joins sentences in an adversarial way but can also be a weak connective ("and") and explanation of cause ("so").

ἀπιστήσας [1 verse]( part sg aor act masc nom ) "Believeth not" is apisteo, which means "to disbelieve", "to disbelieve in someone's words", " distrust ", "to doubt" and "to disobey." --

κατακριθήσεται.[10 verses] ( verb 3rd sg fut ind pass ) "Shall be damned" is katakrinô, which means "to give a sentence against," and "to condemn." It literally means "down separated," and "jduged down" which comes close to our "cut down."

Related Verses: 

Unimportant Opinions and Imaginings: 

It is clearly this level of trust that matters not the baptism itself because the last part of the verse doesn't mention baptism. It is clearly the trust that matters because the lack of it causes one to be judged badly. This makes me wonder about the nature of baptism in Jesus's time. Was it a trust exercise? Like letting yourself fall back into someone's arms, trusting that they will catch you? Was the dunking in a wilder part of a river? Were people expected not to struggle when held under water? Was it, in a sense, a test of someone's bravery as well as trust in someone else?

Front Page Date: 

Nov 6 2023