How many years between the death of John the Baptist and the death of Christ?

Answer 1

John the BaptistJosephus places the marriage of Antipas to his brother's former wife, Herodias, at the same time as, or shortly after, the death of Philip II, who he says died in the twentieth year of the reign of Tiberius (34 CE). John was highly critical of this marriage, causing Antipas to fear that he would cause an insurrection:

Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he 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 he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death.

Josephus makes it clear that Antipas intended to execute John, and it seems most improbable that he would long delay the execution if he feared an insurrection by John's supporters. The execution would have occurred in35 or 36 CE .

King Aretas attacked and defeated Antipas in 36 CE in revenge for the slight to his daughter, whom Antipas divorced in order to marry Herodias. Some of the Jews believed that Antipas' defeat was divine retribution for his execution of John:

Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God's displeasure to him.

This association makes it most likely that John's death was a quite recent event at the time of the defeat - confirming that the execution of John took place in 35 or 36 CE.

JesusThere are two principal views as to when Jesus was crucified. One view, based on the synoptic gospels, is that he probably died in 30 CE. The other is that he was crucified in 33 CE. Years between death of John the Baptist and death of ChristThe conclusion is that John the Baptist died approximately two to six years after the crucifixion of Jesus.

Answer 2

Another answer from our community:

Since it was John the Baptist who baptized Jesus in the River Jordan, and Jesus was about 30 at the time, John the Baptist would have lived at least 30 years after the birth of Jesus. It wasn't too long after that that he was beheaded.

Answer 3

Mary had just become pregnant when she visited Elizabeth who was six months into her pregnancy with John (Luke 1:26) and stayed with her for 3 months (Luke 1:39-56) just before the birth. Therefore, John the Baptist is 6 months older than Jesus.

With respect to the ministry of John the Baptist and that of Jesus, John's ministry was earlier by at least a year.

Answer 4

John the Baptist
Josephus places the marriage of Antipas to his brother's former wife, Herodias, at the same time as, or shortly after, the death of Philip II, who he says died in the twentieth year of the reign of Tiberius (34 CE). John was highly critical of this marriage, causing Antipas to fear that he would cause an insurrection:
Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he 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 he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death.
Josephus makes it clear that Antipas intended to execute John, and it seems most improbable that he would long delay the execution if he feared an insurrection by John's supporters. The execution would have occurred in35 or 36 CE .

King Aretas attacked and defeated Antipas in 36 CE in revenge for the slight to his daughter, whom Antipas divorced in order to marry Herodias. Some of the Jews believed that Antipas' defeat was divine retribution for his execution of John:
Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God's displeasure to him.
This association makes it most likely that John's death was a quite recent event at the time of the defeat - confirming that the execution of John took place in 35 or 36 CE.

JesusThere are two principal views as to when Jesus was crucified. One view, based on the synoptic gospels, is that he probably died in 30 CE. The other is that he was crucified in 33 CE.

Years between death of John the Baptist and death of ChristThe conclusion is that (historically) John the Baptist died approximately two to six years after the crucifixion of Jesus.

Answer 5

We do know,from the Jewish historian Josephus, approximately when John the Baptist died. Josephus confirms that the reason for John's arrest was his public criticism of Herod Antipas' marriage to his own brother's former wife. The wedding took place in 34 CE and Antipas ordered John to be executed in 35 or 36 CE, out of fear that he was stirring the Jews up for rebellion. 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."

The Gospels of Matthew and Luke tell us that Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod the Great, who died in April 4 BCE, and Matthew suggests that Jesus' birth was some years before that time. On that information, and the historical data provided by Josephus, John must have lived for at least 40 years after the birth of Jesus, and probably quite a few years longer.

Luke's Gospel says that John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus, born just six months earlier, but many New Testament scholars say this account was simply a literary creation - we do not know when John was born.

Answer 6

6 months.