This post is part of my current blog series called “Questions People Ask about the Holy Spirit” (#HSQuestions). You are still welcome to submit questions here.
I’m not talking about “fire tunnels,” where people walk in between two lines of people who place their hands on them and pray for them.
Instead, I’m talking about what John the Baptist refers to. He says that Jesus “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (Matthew 3:11 and Luke 3:16).
What does it mean to be baptized with fire?
(Unlikely) Option 1: Fire = the Spirit
One might wish that being baptized with fire means the same as being baptized with the Spirit.
This might make sense since in the Old Testament fire sometimes was a symbol of God’s favorable presence (consider Moses at the burning bush, Exodus 3:2). Also, on the day of Pentecost, when people were baptized in the Spirit, “tongues of fire” rested on each of them (Acts 2:3).
(Unlikely) Option 2: Fire = Purification
In the Old Testament, fire sometimes symbolized God’s purification, much like fire is used to refine metals. For example, in Zechariah 13:8-9 the Lord said, “This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. … I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’”
If this is what John the Baptist means, then being baptized with fire would refer to an event of being made more holy, like increasing in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5).
(More Likely) Option 3: Fire = Judgment
In the Old Testament, fire is sometimes used to refer to God’s judgment of Israel’s enemies. For example, Isaiah writes that “your many enemies will become . . . like blown chaff. …The LORD Almighty will come with . . . flames of a devouring fire (29:5-6).
Similarly, in the New Testament in the Gospel of Matthew, John the Baptist warns the Pharisees and Sadducees about “the coming wrath” (3:7). He adds that “every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” (verse 10).
In the very next verse, John states that Jesus will baptize “with fire” (verse 11). And he immediately continues by adding that Jesus will burn “up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (verse 12).
In this passage fire is only presented in a negative light.
The same thing is true for Luke 3:9-17, the only other place in the Bible that speaks of being baptized “with fire” (3:16).
If this doesn’t convince you, let me give you…
Three more reasons that being baptized with fire means receiving judgement:
1) Jesus never told the disciples they would be baptized in fire on the day of Pentecost. Rather, he only said, “in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:5).
2) Even though they both quote John the Baptist as saying that Jesus “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8, John 1:33), the gospels of Mark and John don’t mention being baptized with fire, and, likewise, they don’t mention anything about God’s judgment (unlike Luke and Matthew).
3) Even though Luke writes about being baptized with fire in his gospel, Luke never mentions it in the book of Acts (which he also wrote), and he also never says that anyone received the “fire” of the Spirit.
Baptism in the Spirit is great.
But, if someone asks you if you want to be baptized with fire, I suggest you run away from them while politely yelling, “No, thank you!”
In the meantime, please be careful that you “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire” (1 Thessalonians 5:19). 😉
Question: Have you heard any other explanations of what being “baptized with fire” means? Leave a comment below by clicking here.
You might also be interested in these posts:
- Why do PENTECOSTALS care so much about SPIRIT BAPTISM?
- Spirit Baptism in Current Pentecostal Theology: Part 2 – Amos Yong
- PAOC Clergy on Tongues and Spirit Baptism: Changing Views
Andrew K. Gabriel, Ph.D., is the author of Touched by God: Experiencing the Holy Spirit (forthcoming) as well as three academic books, including The Lord is the Spirit. He is a theology professor at Horizon College and Seminary and serves on the Theological Study Commission for the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. You can follow him on Facebook or on Twitter.
Hi Andrew
Great post! I heard Gordon Fee on an old video series give good clues as to what John the Baptist was referring to. John’s eschatological expectation was that when the Messiah came, the old age would break and the new age would dawn, the Messianic age, with final judgment! So, yes, fire = judgment, and John’s warnings make sense in the light of Fee’s explanation.
Wow! Many out out there hands out saying fire fire fire. Thanks Andrew for all your work.
Thanks for the encouragement, Mason.
Thanks for the input, Steve. Gordon Fee is a great scholar.
Dr. Gabriel,
Thank you for this article. I came to the same conclusion – that this fire is, in this context, fire of judgement.
The context is John pronouncing judgement on the onlooking Pharisees etc. who did not have the fruit of repentance. Such would be cut at the root by the “ax” and cast in the fire.
John immediately explains baptizied “εν” fire, as windowing the chaff and burning it with unquenchable fire.
His first reference is a figurative and immediate (“and even now” Luke 3:9) fire of rejection and separation that foreshadows or finally results in that final separation of “cast into” and “burning with” unquenchable fire.
JTB’s second reference to fire is the baptism έν fire. He explains it as the coming separation of wheat and chaff. This separation likely will begin with the soon appearance of the Kingdom of God comprised only of the “born anew” (John 3:3), then the coming spotless ἐκκλησία, then the consumation of the Kingdom of God wherin all saints of all ages will reign with the Messiah and in which all Israel will be saved, and then the final separation/judgement when everyone not bearing the fruit of repentance will be cast into the Lake of Fire.
God is a consuming fire, which is true in all ages including eternity. No darkness of unrepentance can exist the Kingdom of God or in the Kingdom of Heaven. But all who are baptized έν the Holy Spirit (Luke 3:16) by Jesus – the coming Salvation of God (Luke 3:6) – having repented for forgiveness of sin (Luke 3:3) and who “bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Luke 3:8) will be as the wheat on a purged threshing floor (Luke 3:17) and will not be burned by the fire.
This does not mean that every reference to fire in the scripture is referring to judgement/separation by baptism έν fire.
It is interesting that the ones disagreeing with your post want to interpret this in accordance to other uses of fire in scripture, their notions of their theology, system of doctrine, experiences, and/or by emotional reflex.
Each scripture has an intended point by the Holy Spirit and the writer. Private interpretations are prohibited (2 Peter 1:20). And so I must acknowledge that my view on baptism έν fire must be abandoned if it proves to be a private interpretation.
The key to understanding the point of a passage is first its immediate context, and especially so when the context is given as a narrative. We compare scripture with scripture to avoid interpretations that are opposed to revealed truth. The comparing is not for the purpose of superimposing or eisegesis that conflicts with the context. If your doctrine is sound, it can withstand this BAPTISM έν FIRE, being understood as judgement fire.
Thanks Andrew I have been trying to convince friends of this for some time. Occaisionally I succeed. Also Gordon Fee has been a great encouragment to me especially in my post-grad studies on 1 Cor
I think in Theological Terms the use of The words Holy Fire in misused.However, when this is said most imply Fire to mean Power impartation , Annointing,Extra ordinary Grace.Some use it in terms of Wild Fire..as in HS showing up creating manifestations..laughter, shaking, sudden burts of worship, healing, and group deliverance. I think it is fair to say the missuse of the words doesnt confuse God on their intent to Receive more of His Holy Spirit or enpowerment in ministry.
Though i understand the suggestion to “Run Away” based off a truer understanding of the words. I do not think for a second that agreeing to this impsrtation will somehow bring a Judgemental Purifying fire upon those who say yes.
My experience, when these words are used, is a great deal of refreshment, freedom, empowerment.
Thoughts?
Thanks seerson finally some sound theology, yes fire can be purifying and a symbol of judgement, and yes, we will all stand before the Father and be judged, but Jesus is a our Saviour, he has taken the judgement upon himself and we are free from fear. That is a legally binding contract called justification. As the Holy Spirit sanctifies us through the blood of Christ, we are made new, yes he will burn out all that is no of himself in our lives, but that is nothing to be feared or run away from. Bring on the burning, our Father is not vindictive or someone who wants to bring fear and destruction upon His children, We don’t run away from him and his work in our lives, we run into the arms of a loving Father who wants only the best for his kids.
Sorry Andrew I think you may have missed the whole point of the Cross
Hi Peter, Thanks for commenting. I actually agree with pretty much everything you have said (just not the last sentence :). You are making a general theological observation about general themes in scripture. By contract, I’m trying to say what was John the Baptist getting at in these two specific Bible passages. So yes, the “fire” of God can be a great thing for believers, but (for all the reasons I explained above), when John the Baptism (the only person who used this metaphor in the Bible) spoke of being baptized in fire, I don’t think that is what he meant. Thanks again for commenting.
Hi Andrew,
I appreciate your writings and what your are doing, but wanted to comment on interpreting fire as judgment and mostly negative in reference to the Baptist’s statement, “He will baptize YOU with the Holy Spirit and fire.” Admittedly, this verse is not easy to interpret, but John does seem to be equating the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire.
Before commenting on that verse I wanted to draw attention to viewing fire in a positive light. The pillar of fire in Israel’s wilderness wandering, the chariots of fire that whisked Elijah away, the blazing torch of the smoking firepot that sealed the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 15:17), and the apocalyptic description of Jesus himself (Rev. 1:14). Along with the tongues of fire on Pentecost and the burning bush they all have one thing in common: God’s awesome presence.
The baptism in the Holy Spirit is nothing if it is not an immersion into God’s presence. The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to accomplish what the LAW could not do and that is make us holy. If he cannot burn out the dross, refine us and as the Spirit of holiness (Rms. 1:4) nothing can. He is the purifying agent who burns up the impurities in our lives in the great eschatological event called baptism in the Spirit.
Isaiah spoke of a day when the Lord would wash away the filth of Jerusalem “by a Spirit of judgment and a Spirit of fire” (Is. 4:4). When he did a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night would cover God’s cleansed people with a canopy of divine glory. Fire here associated with the Spirit cleanses moral filth and offers protection from the storms of life (vv. 5-6).
So, I think in the larger context of Scripture the baptism of the Spirit and fire is not speaking of two separate events–one for believers (baptism in Holy Spirit) and one for unbelievers (fire) but of one glorious experience that ushers us into the wonderful, glorious protective covering of God and his glory. This interpretation, I believe, is more in keeping with Paul’s argument about the glory of the New Covenant being more glorious (II Cor. 3:8) that the glory of the first where Moses experienced a trembling, smoking and lightning bolts shattering mountain it. When we have the Spirit we all with unveiled faces reflect the Lord’s glory and are transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory (v16-17). He is God’s purifying agent.
Just a few thoughts.
Blessings,
Bill Gibson
So do we remove “O Lord, Send the Fire Just Now” from the hymnal (for those who still have hymnals)?
Interestingly enough, I have seen they lyrics written differently: http://library.timelesstruths.org/music/O_Lord_Send_the_Power_Just_Now/
I’m not sure that this is necessary though. In the post, I’m trying to interpret what John the Baptist getting at in two specific Bible passages. By contrast, the “fire” of God can be a great thing for believers, but (for all the reasons I explained above), when John the Baptism (the only person who used this metaphor in the Bible) spoke of being baptized in fire, I don’t think that is what he meant.
The question of what he meant may rest on the question of who he was speaking to.
I believe it means the fire of persecution.
Hi! I have received the Holy Ghost baptism which some would call the fire baptism. Maybe I can add a little bit to help with confusion:
Any time you come into contact with a spiritual being or angelic being, or have experienced a Kundalini rising, there will be some heat (or fire)
It is an amazing experience which I would never trade, and also a purification process. I have had a full veil removal and am anointed by the spirit. I also gained spiritual sight which really freaked me out as I could see entities which scared me a bit!
There is no judgment with a baptism. It is a beautiful experience to feel so close to God. I was very blessed, after many lives of not having this. Yes it took me by surprise and yes he came like a thief!
You will grieve the spirit every day after and become so homesick that you won’t know what to do.
It’s incredible! There is a fire aspect to it but it is a beautiful, personal experience all should have. If you have not received the fire baptism you will not be able to go to heaven. You will not be pure enough to stand before Jehovah.
If you have received the Holy Spirit of the true God then we are happy for you.
But it is disturbing what you say..”after many liveS’? Kundalini? nobody is going to heaven without it? not pure enough? jehova? (who’s that?- I can’t stress enough using names for God Almighty that we don’t know where are they coming from!) are you in the new age thing? Please be careful.
Jehovah is Gods name. look it up it’s in the old testament
Thanks for this Andrew! Very helpful for a Bible Study I’m leading. I googled the question and up came your trusted name. Hope you and your family are well!
Glad you found it helpful! All the best for your Bible study.
Thank you for this excellent article. I was saved out of the New Age Movement in 1993; prior to that, I had experienced a “kundalini awakening” at the ashram of a Hindu Yogi who was falsely teaching that his teachings and those of Jesus were the same. I have since been blessed to have been “filled with the Holy Spirit” and can testify that these two experiences are polar opposites. The “baptism by fire” that has been coming into churches since the mid 90’s through “impartation” (Rodney Howard Browne was the main catalyst, but Word of Faith Prosperity preacher Kenneth Hagin was also imparting this spirit while he was alive) is absolutely identical to, in every respect, and in some instances worse than, what I experienced during the “electrifying kundalini awakening” I had in 1984. You will always hear those who receive this baptism by fire (coming under the judgment) likening it to “Lightning” or “electricity” this is coming under the control of a satanic “force” that manifests lying signs and wonders, and is most assuredly NOT the same experience as being convicted of sin, repenting, and humbly surrendering one’s life to the control of the indwelling PERSON of the Holy Spirit.
Hi Andrew, please help answer this, I am a woman made in the image of a King, so I’m a king not a Princess or a queen…?
Like Sonship…
Therefore I carry the Kingdom within…
Therefore demons cant touch me…
They hate my fire but NO weapon formed against me shall!
They bounce off me and are incinerated as my fire is hotter than their hell-fire.
Is this scriptural?
For 6 months I’ve had what feels like things jumping on my bed. ONLY when I lie down to slow.
I was misdiagnosed and put on beta blockersand anti anxiety meds. But nothing changed.
It pushed me more into praying in tongues and praise and worship.
I’m now thankfully off ALL the meds, bed sometimes still shakes, but I submit to God, dismiss the attack I.e. ignore and sleep soundlly…
I pray that you continue to submit your whole like to God in every way and that God gives you victory through this. All the best to you!
I think it speaks to when we stand before the Lord in heaven. We will all be refined. All our good works (crown) will remain and all the useless ones will burn off like dross and then, with what the fire did not consume, we will all lay our “crown” before Him knowing it is only because of Him we have anything at all to offer. Heaven is perfect and all of it’s occupants will be also. Nothing produced by Christ and our love for Him will be lost. Only what is useless and unnecessary. I base that off of the following bible verse.
If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15
Interesting suggestion. Thanks for sharing your perspective.
Also, notice that it says Jesus “will baptize you…… Jesus did not baptize anyone on earth. His baptism is by fire in heaven.
True, not while on earth. But he did after the ascension (Acts 1:5, 2:33).
Yea, it means the next level the refiners Fire a purification. A higher stage in Disciple Hood.
( I am from Germany, so sorry if my englisch is not perfect ) As a hungry believer I experienced the baptism with water of the holy spirit really early in my life. The baptism with fire came a bit later. I think thats because of a state of heart that needs to be there for it. For the baptism of fire i needed to humble myself and to surrender my life totally to Jesus. In this moment the holy spirit can enter in a total new way into my soul/spirit/heart, because i don’t hold anything back anymore. The body is the temple of the holy spirit and has to be holy and pure. Thats what happening while experiencing the baptism with fire, the holy spirit burns away every unclean/sinful thing and burns aways also obstacles which hold you back from having intimacy with god. He brings also deeper deliverance, healing and pures out his love in a new dimension and he gives an anointing through the fire. So there is really a lot what is happening through that fire. I experienced all of that and its indescribable awesome and life transforming. You can also feel the heat of that fire physically in a way, that it feels like every inch of your body is bowling (the flesh is dying) but it feels wonderful and is not a feeling of pain in a negativ sentence. After that process you feel refreshed, washed, christ minded, loved, happy and free. So you immediately see the fruits of the spirit. Its just awesome and I can recommend not to be afraid of that purification. Also the anointing part is really special. After i received the baptism with fire i could lay hands on other believers and the power god was flowing through me to the other person in a whole new powerful way, so that the person got healed and delivered faster than before. So its worth it to be hungry for it ! Now i know that the baptism with fire is needed for a powerful ministry which i will start in the coming years. God is so good !
See Jesus went into my heart then the Holy Spirit came. and i went to church to watch my friend be baptized it was like everything was trying to keep me from going, then when i got there i felt that fire inside, but I’ve been afraid of it cause i read post saying it’s bad and its Gods judgement. reading these post have helped so much.
What I believe being baptized with fire is like sandpaper smoothing out our rough edges. People sometimes cross our path and we learn patience. Sometimes learning patience you have to wait and wait. And so on and so forth. Yes fire burns, but so does sandpaper. Being baptized in water represents the old staying down and the new man emerges, but unfortunately we still have lots to learn. Better to learn willingly than not.
Hello I really go by many names. The first time I heard my full name that my mother gave me… at my birth was around my 12th grade graduation. I cried to know that I have the same name as one other. The one who raped my mom. I have is name on my forehead. But he never called me by it. He only called me (That One). But my mom would always call me( He Is). But I would love to tell you all about the bay that my life changed. I saw the blood of Jesus on my hands. And felt the burning conviction from within. This was soon after I was baptized with water… as a way of saying that I AM ready for the true baptism. A few days prior to this event… I spilled the beans and told on my self for everything I had done. Like vomit being spewed out. I had made myself ready. I shed my blood for him who did it for me. This is the day that God came for me. His bride.. and God stayed with me. I am the 3rd temple. The church… the house of the living God. The spirit of God of creation. Is alive in me. I stood foot on the mountain.hit me up
My comment is that is ti the baptism for of what job had passed though?
Being baptized by God into Christ.
I appreciate your commentary, however consider this.
The fiery coals purged the sins of Isaiah and took away his sin. Also, I would be careful to pass over (even though you mentioned tongues of fire) tounges of fire so lightly. This was THE way, along with tounges, that God poured out His spirit upon mankind.
Isaiah 6;5-7
Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said:
“Behold, this has touched your lips;Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.”
Also, Jesus did not mention anything about tounges of fire, nor speaking tounges would be part of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. But there was fire involved.
Best Regards
I recently heard from a good bible teacher that Jesus baptism with fire directed to the first century Jewish audience warning them if they rejected Christ they’ll be faced with their judgment in reference to AD70
In the unaccountable years of Jesus some have suggested Jesus traveled the Far East. Is it possible Jesus encountered strong mind altering drugs that utilized smoking a pipe for instance and that’s where the “fire” comes in?