In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, ‘The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” ’ (Luke 3: 1-5)

John's baptism was a sacrament of repentance. The Greek used by Luke is metanoia meaning to change one's mind. As is so often case with Greek culture, the focus is on mental perspective and attitude.

Hebrew has two words for repentance. Nacham is similar to metanoia in its focus on intention and mental states. This notion of repentance involves regret, sorrow, pity (even self-pity) and the need for comfort, in some cases comforting one's self.

The other Hebrew concept of repentance is shuwb, which means to turn back, to return, to restore, refresh or repair. This repenting involves action and practical change.

John seems to have preached a repentance that encompassed both intention and action. There is the suggestion of action - the physical baptizing - preceding the change in attitude which allows for a change in condition through forgiveness, which might lead to further action to restore, refresh, and repair.

Above is the Sermon of St. John the Baptist by Bruegel. Please click on the image to enlarge.