When did St John the Baptist live?

Answer 1

We do not know exactly when John the Baptist was born, although Luke's Gospel places it during thereign of King Herod, who died in April 4 BCE. The Jewish historian Josephus records his death. Herod Antipas had John the Baptist killed because he disapproved of Antipas' marriage to his own brother's wife, who divorced her husband in order to marry Herod Antipas. The marriage must have taken place after 34 CE and Josephus' account of John's execution seems to place in the year 36.

Another answer

Depending on calendar adjustments, John was born about 1 AD and died about the year 30.

Answer 2

Other answers from our community:

John the Baptist was a contemporary of Jesus. He was the son of Elizabeth and Zacharias (Luke 1:5-7) and was conceived six months before Jesus. (Luke 1:39-56

John the Baptist was born 6 months before Jesus circa late March, early April 5 BC. He prepared the way for our Savior circa 25-27 AD and was beheaded shortly after the beginning of Jesus' ministry which began in 27 AD.

Answer 3

A:We can not be sure when John the Baptist was born, although Luke's Gospel says that this was shortly before the birth of Jesus and therefore some time before 5 BCE. The synoptic gospels say that he was executed at the start of Jesus' ministry, or around 29 CE. John's Gospel, whose author seems to have been somewhat aware of Jewish history and culture, is more ambiguous about the time of John's death, saying that he was still alive well into the mission of Jesus.

The Jewish historian Josephus said that Herod Antipas had the Baptist killed far away from Galilee and in quite different circumstances, because he disapproved of Antipas' marriage to his own brother's wife, who divorced her husband in order to marry Antipas. The wedding took place in 34 CE and the execution of John would have been in 35 or 36 CE. 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."

As Josephus and all the gospels agree that John was arrested and executed on the orders of Herod Antipas, ruler of Galilee and Macherus, he could not have been living at that time in Judea, where Antipas had no authority.

Answer 4

We know approximately when John the Baptist died, but there is uncertainty about when he was born.

Luke 1:5-7 says that John was born just a few months before Jesus, but of course we do not really know when Jesus was born. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke are more or less in agreement that Jesus was born during the reign of King Herod the Great, who died in April 4 BCE, and Matthew implies that his birth was at least a few years before Herod died. In any case, many New Testament scholars question the account of John's birth, which only the author of Luke seems to have known.

We do know, from the Jewish historian Josephus, that John the Baptist died in 35 or 36 CE, because his execution occurred some time after Herod Antipas married Herodias in 34 CE and only shortly before Aretas of Nabatea invaded Galilee in 36 CE.

Answer 5

John the Baptist lived in the early first century. We have no reliable information as to when he was born, but the first century Jewish historian, Josephus, indicated he was executed in Macherus by Herod Antipas about 35 or early 36 CE.

Answer 6

John the baptist lived in the early 1st Century; about the same time as Jesus of Nazareth. He was born a few months before Jesus, and was killed about a year or so before Jesus died.

Answer 7

John lived for about 32-33 years.