Category:Preaching of John the Baptist (subject)

The Preaching of John the Baptist refers to an event in the life of John the Baptist. The episode is narrated in the four Gospels, as well as in the works of Josephus.

People : John the Baptist -- cf. Sadducees, Pharisees

< Life of John the Baptist : Annunciation to Zacharias -- Visitation of Mary -- Birth of John the Baptist -- Child John the Baptist with Jesus -- Young John the Baptist in the Desert -- Preaching of John the Baptist -- Baptism of Jesus -- Question about Fasting -- Messengers from John the Baptist -- Death of John the Baptist -- Question about Authority -- Relics of John the Baptist >

Overview

The Gospel of Mark introduces John the Baptist as the one who prepared the path for the coming of Jesus and announced his messiahship. Matthew and Luke add more details about the moral teaching of John. The Gospel of John is more focused on presenting John as the witness of Jesus before friends and foes.

John the Baptist did not claim to be the Messiah but proclaimed the imminent coming of the Messiah as the eschatological Judge, apparently a sort of Son of Man type of Messiah.

Josephus also talks about the baptism of John, but does not connect John the Baptist with Jesus of Nazareth.

The core of John's preaching was the announcement of the imminent end of time and the coming of the eschatological judge. Sinners were urged to be baptized "with water" so that they would not be baptized "with fire" (the reference to the the "Holy Spirit" appears to be an attempt to connect more closely John's announcement to the Christian baptism, rather than to the Last Judgment).

Preaching of John the Baptist, in ancient sources

Josephus, Jewish Antiquities

Ant XVIII 5, 2 -- John, that was called the Baptist... was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness towards one another, and piety towards God, and so to come to baptism; for that the washing [with water] would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away [or the remission] of some sins [only], but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. Now when [many] others came in crowds about him, for they were very greatly moved [or pleased] by hearing his words... John had great influence over the people... for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise...

Gospel of Mark

Preaching of John the Baptist -> Baptism of Jesus -> Temptation of Jesus -> Beginning of Galilean Ministry ->...

Mark 1:1-8 (NRSV) -- [1] The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. [2] As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, "See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; [3] the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,'" [4] John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. [5] And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. [6] Now John was clothed with camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. [7] He proclaimed, "The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. [8] I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

Cf. Mark 11:32 (NRSV) -- All regarded John as truly a prophet.

Gospel of Matthew

Mt 3:1-12 (NRSV) -- [1] In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, [2] "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." [3] This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.'" [4] Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. [5] Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, [6] and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. [7] But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bear fruit worthy of repentance. [9] Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. [10] Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [11] "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [12] His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

Cf. Matthew 21:26 (NRSV) -- All regard John as a prophet.

Gospel of Luke

Lk 3:1-20 (NRSV) -- [1] In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias ruler of Abilene, [2] during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. [3] He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, [4] as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. [5] Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth; [6] and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" [7] John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. [9] Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." [10] And the crowds asked him, "What then should we do?" [11] In reply he said to them, "Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise." [12] Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, "Teacher, what should we do?" [13] He said to them, "Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you." [14] Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what should we do?" He said to them, "Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages." [15] As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, [16] John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [17] His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." [18] So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. [19] But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, [20] added to them all by shutting up John in prison.

Cf. Luke 20:6 (NRSV) -- All the people... are convinced that John was a prophet.

Gospel of John

Jn 1:19-28 (NRSV) -- [19] ...When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" [20] He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." [21] And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." [22] Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" [23] He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,'" as the prophet Isaiah said. [24] Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. [25] They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" [26] John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, [27] the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." [28] This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Preaching of John the Baptist, in literature and the arts

John the Baptist Preaching to the Crowds

John the Baptist Confronting the Sadducees and Pharisees

St. John the Baptist with the Scribes and Pharisees (1665 Murillo), art

John the Baptist Baptizing the Crowds

The episode is only rarely presented, since it was overshadowed by the Baptism of Jesus. Relevantly, only males were portrayed among the many who were baptized by John.

John the Baptist Reproaching Herod Antipas

"Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her. 18 For John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him" (Gospel of Mark 6:17-20; cf. Gosepl of Matthew 14:3-5) / "Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother's wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, [20] added to them all by shutting up John in prison." (Gospel of Luke)

Preaching of John the Baptist, in the movies

Il vangelo secondo Matteo (The Gospel According to St. Matthew / 1964 Pasolini), film -- The movie follows the Matthean (Q) narrative.

External links

[ Wikipedia]

Pages in category "Preaching of John the Baptist (subject)"

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