John the Baptist

Ephesus.

John was exiled to the isle of Patmos during the reign of Emperor Domitian (Revelation 1:9) who viciously persecuted Christians during his rule (81-96 C.E.). Most historians feel that John was released from exile following Domitian's death and died in Ephesus about the close of the first century C.E.

The historical account, told by Josephus, is somewhat different. The gospel account is correct in that John the Baptist had publicly criticised Antipas' marriage to Herodias, which took place in 34 CE. But Herod himself had wanted John killed, lest he start an uprising among the people of Galilee. There was no party in Galilee and John the Baptist died in 35 or 36 CE in the faraway castle of Macherus. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews says:

"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."

Another answer from our community:

There are none. There are some things hard to understand and especially many deep spiritual truths, but no contradictions. Since John, like the rest of scripture is divinely inspired, God knew what He wanted written through the mind and pen of John. He did not forget as He went nor did He contradict what He said previously in other places.

It would appear so based on this scripture. Luke 1:15

"For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb.

The Old Testament states characteristics of a Nazarite which are noted in Numbers 6. Verse 2 says:

"He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink, and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vinegar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried."

The first-century Jewish historian, Josephus, agrees that John was arrested and also executed for criticising Antipas, but tells us that the wedding did not take place until 34 CE. Josephus also links the Jewish reaction to the execution of John to the attack on Antipas by King Aretas in 36 CE. Thus, we can reliably say that John the Baptist died in 35 or 36 CE.

If the gospels are correct in saying that John the Baptist was already preaching in 29 CE, then he must have been preaching for at least six or seven years, but it is not possible to say more than this.

In Luke 3:7-10, John called the multitude who came to him a generation of vipers who were fleeing the wrath to come: "Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?" In this Gospel, John did not say anything to the Pharisees and Sadducees.

In Matthew 3:7-9, John is reported to say this to the Pharisees and Sadducees, rather than to the multitude: "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham."

A:

Of course the basic gsopel story of John the Baptist was first written in Mark's Gospel and then copied and elaborated by the authors of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The author of Luke added some extensive material about the birth of John to Zacherias and Elizabeth, although Uta Ranke-Heinemann (Putting Away Childish Things) says that both Zacharius and Elizabeth were literary creations by the author of Luke's Gospel. The Magnificat, a hymn sung by Mary in Luke 1:46-55 is actually a compilation of passages from various parts of the Old Testament.

The authors of both Matthew and Luke wrote nativity stories that are described as virtually irreconcilable. Luke's Gospel says that Jesus was born during the reign of Herod but then contradicts itself by saying that he was born during the census of Quirinius, taken ten years after Herod's death. Raymond E. Brown (An Introduction to the New Testament) says the best explanation is that, although Luke likes to set his Christian drama in the context of well known events from antiquity, sometimes he does so inaccurately.

Because Luke places Elizabeth in Jerusalem, Uta Ranke-Heinemann (Putting Away Childish Things) says it is altogether impossible to understand why Joseph did not arrange things so that when "the time came for her to be delivered" she could stay with her cousin and give birth to her son there, rather than travel onwards to Bethlehem where she knew no one and could not even find accommodation. Ranke-Heinemann agrees with the scholarly consensus that Luke's account is not historical and adds that presumably Elizabeth was herself a creature of legend. This view contradicts Luke's story of Elizabeth in Jerusalem.

A:

According to the gospels, John the Baptist was arrested and held in prison early in the mission of Jesus, probably around 29 CE. Herod Antipas' wife, Herodias, had a quarrel with John the Baptist and would have killed him if she could but, at a royal party in Galilee for the senior men of the kingdom, told her daughter to ask for his head on a platter. In this account, John was beheaded because Herodias tricked Herod, although he would have allowed him to live.

We have one other source of information on John the Baptist. The Jewish historian Josephus said that Herod Antipas had the Baptist killed in quite different circumstances and several years later than the gospel story would allow, because he disapproved of Antipas' marriage to his own brother's wife, who divorced her husband in order to marry Herod Antipas. 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. In this historian's account, there is no provision for anyone to ask for John's head on a platter. Moreover, the party described in the gospels would have been held in Galilee, if at all, but Josephus says that John was imprisoned and executed in faraway Macherus. He might have been beheaded, if that suited Herod Antipas, but not in Galilee and not at anyone else's request.