Bible Dictionary
BAPTISM OF FIRE
The baptism of fire refers to Christ’s work through the Holy Spirit as a purifying and refining power. It portrays the cleansing of sin, the burning away of spiritual dross, and the kindling of holy love and zeal for service.
Definition
The baptism of fire describes the purifying work of Christ through the Holy Spirit. Fire represents the consuming of spiritual dross, the cleansing of sin, the kindling of divine love and zeal, and the illumination of the soul. It is joined with baptism in the Holy Spirit as one work rather than treated here as a separate baptism of judgment.
Biblical Usage
John the Baptist declared that Christ would baptize in the Holy Spirit and fire. The expression describes how Christ admits people to discipleship and prepares them for His service through the Spirit’s sanctifying and refining work.
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(en pneumati hagio kai puri): This expression is used in Mt 3:11. The copulative kai requires that the baptism "in the Holy Ghost and in fire," should be regarded as one and the same thing. It does violence to the construction, therefore, to make this statement refer to the fire Of judgment. The difficulty has always been in associating fire with the person of the Holy Ghost. But in the connection of fire with the work or influence of the Holy Ghost the difficulty disappears. The thought of John is that the Saviour would give them the Divine Sanctifier as purifying water to wash away their sins and as a refining fire to consume their dross; to kindle in their hearts the holy flame of Divine love and zeal; to illuminate their souls with heavenly wisdom. The statement, therefore, in this verse indicates the manner in which Christ will admit them to discipleship and prepare them for His service.</p><p>See BAPTISM; FIRE.</p><p>Jacob W. Kapp</p>