John the Baptist

John the Baptist (also called John the Baptizer) is regarded as a prophet by at least three religions: Christianity, Islam, and Mandaeanism. According to the Gospel of Luke, he was a relative of Jesus, a cousin. That he was a prophet is asserted by the Synoptic Gospels of the Christian Bible and the Qur'an (see also prophets of Islam). Eastern Orthodox Christians also refer to him as John the Forerunner because he was the forerunner of Christ. Isaiah 40:3-5 is commonly read as a prophecy of John. Muslims believe the head of John the Baptist is interred in the Umayyad Mosque.

Josephus

Flavius Josephus in Jewish Antiquities book 18, chapter 5, paragraph 2 records the following:

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:Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God, and that very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, that was called the Baptist: for Herod slew him, who 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 would be acceptable to him, if they made use of it, not in order to the putting away of some sins , but for the purification of the body; supposing still that the soul was thoroughly purified beforehand by righteousness. Now when others came in crowds about him, for they were very greatly moved by hearing his words, 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. 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. (Whiston Translation) http://earlychristianwritings.com/text/josephus/ant-18.htm

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• John's Baptism is not for the repentence of sins, as opposed to Mark 1:4.
• John is executed to prevent "mischief," rather than to please Herod's wife's daughter.
• Jesus is not mentioned in relation to the Baptist.
• In context, John was executed, in Josephus's account, around 36 CE.

Josephus's passage is quoted by Origen in Contra Celsum in the early third century, and again by Eusebius of Caesarea in the fourth century.

Related Topics:
Origen - Third century - Eusebius of Caesarea - Fourth century

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