What are facts about John the Baptist's life?

Answer 1

A:

We know almost nothing historical about the life of John the Baptist. From the few non-biblical sources we have, it seems he was extremely popular among the Jews.

Luke's Gospel say that his parents were called Zacherias and Elizabeth, and that Elizabeth was the cousin of Mary, mother of Jesus. However, Uta Ranke-Heinemann (Putting Away Childish Things) saying that Zacherias and Elizabeth were literary creations by the author of Luke's Gospel.

The gospels say that John baptised for the remission of sins and proclaimed the coming of Jesus. However, the first-century Jewish historian Josephus actually says that he baptised for the purification of the body and not at all for the remission of sins. Assuming Josephus to have been correct, the gospels are clearly wrong about the purpose of John's baptism. And if they were wrong on this, they might also have been wrong in saying that John proclaimed the coming of Jesus.

Finally, the gospels tell us that John was arrested for publicly criticising the marriage of Herod Antipas to his own brother's former wife, but that Herod did not wish to harm John. The daughter of Herodias danced for Herod Antipas at a party in Galilee, after which he offered her anything she wished. Prompted by her mother, Herodias, she asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter. This could hardly be more different to the account told by Josephus.

Josephus tells us that Herod Antipas had John arrested and taken to faraway Macherus and executed for fear that he would raise a rebellion among the Jews. Although John's criticism of the marriage was a factor, Herod was chiefly concerned about the possibility of John sparking an uprising. For this reason, he had John executed as quickly as possible. The marriage does tell us when John the Baptist was executed, because the wedding took place in 34 CE, so John's execution was in 35 or early 36 CE. We are not told whether John the Baptist was actually beheaded, or executed in some other way. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews:

"Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."