Introduction: A Ministry in Motion
At the center of the Pharisees’ concern in John 4:1 is the report that:
Ἰησοῦς πλείονας μαθητὰς ποιεῖ καὶ βαπτίζει —
“Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples.”
The Greek here uses two coordinated present active indicative verbs to convey ongoing ministry activity. This compound structure emphasizes both personal transformation (discipling) and ritual action (baptizing)—both of which fuel Yeshuʿ’s increasing influence.
Ὡς οὖν ἔγνω ὁ κύριος ὅτι ἤκουσαν οἱ Φαρισαῖοι, ὅτι Ἰησοῦς πλείονας μαθητὰς ποιεῖ καὶ βαπτίζει ἢ Ἰωάννης·
Let us now turn to the final element in this richly layered sentence from John 4:1:
ποιεῖ καὶ βαπτίζει — “he is making and baptizing.”
This is a compound verbal construction, consisting of two present active indicative verbs joined by καί. Though simple on the surface, this structure reflects repetitive and ongoing action in Greek, and it highlights both the discipling and ritual purification aspects of Yeshuʿ’s early ministry. It’s a window into both mission strategy and grammatical flow.
Morphological Breakdown
- ποιεῖ {poiei} –
Root: ποιέω {poieō};
Form: present active indicative, 3rd person singular;
Tense: present (continuous or habitual action);
Voice: active;
Mood: indicative (factual);
Translation: “he makes,” or “he is making”;
Notes: In this context, likely refers to “making disciples,” a term of transformative relationship and not merely numerical increase. - βαπτίζει {baptizei} –
Root: βαπτίζω {baptizō};
Form: present active indicative, 3rd person singular;
Tense: present (continuous);
Voice: active;
Mood: indicative;
Translation: “he baptizes,” or “he is baptizing”;
Notes: Expresses ritual activity associated with spiritual initiation, paralleling John the Baptist’s ministry.
Syntactical Analysis: Coordinated Present Indicatives
The subject Ἰησοῦς governs both verbs, which are joined by καί (“and”):
– ποιεῖ καὶ βαπτίζει = “he is making and baptizing”
This is not just a random pairing:
– ποιεῖ relates to forming identity: calling, training, transforming individuals into disciples.
– βαπτίζει relates to ritual initiation: identifying with a spiritual movement.
Together, they describe a dual movement of Jesus’ early public work:
1. Internal transformation
2. External sign
The present indicative underscores that these are not isolated acts—they are ongoing realities.
Semantic and Theological Implications
This pairing of verbs reveals important theological themes:
– Discipleship is not just about belief, but about initiation and following.
– Jesus is portrayed as surpassing John by engaging in both teaching and baptizing.
– The verbs point toward the eventual formation of the church, where these same actions—making disciples and baptizing—will become central (cf. Matthew 28:19).
In John’s Gospel, this early ministry already anticipates the greater spiritual work to come.
Literary and Narrative Significance
The compound verb pair:
– Serves as the object of the Pharisees’ concern (they hear about this).
– Explains the reason for Jesus’ departure from Judea.
– Foreshadows the transition from John’s ministry to Jesus’ full emergence as rabbi and baptizer.
Also, this passage sets up the clarification in John 4:2:
“Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were”—a theological aside that helps distinguish roles but does not reduce the symbolic weight of the verbs here.
He Was Making and Baptizing
The two present indicative verbs ποιεῖ and βαπτίζει express more than mere activity—they define the rhythm of redemption:
– He was making disciples—calling them into truth.
– He was baptizing—sealing them in cleansing water.
And this double action was growing.
The crowds knew it,
the Pharisees heard it,
and Jesus moved on—
not to retreat, but to reveal himself in Samaria.
