John the baptist was one of the most fascinating and misunderstood people of the bible. John the baptist prepares the way the beginning of the good news about jesus the messiah, the son of god, as it is written in isaiah the prophet. John overview, one of over 110 bible commentaries freely available, this commentary has been relied on by millions in their daily studies for more than 90 years. John the baptist biblical references old testament prophecy old testament prophecy christians believe that john the baptist had a specific role ordained by god as forerunner or precursor of jesus, who was the foretold messiah. John the baptist late 1 st century bc ad 2836 was a jewish itinerant preacher in the early 1 st century ad. The zondervan quick reference library is knowledgeable, fascinating, and helpful. This article lists many references to the old testament found on the. The old testament and the fourth gospel 303 accurately the ratio of usage. Malachi, the last book of the old testament, also prophesies of a messenger of the lord malachi 3. A prophet of two worlds, he called out to the israel of his own generation and to christian believers of today to heed the most radical demands of conversion and newness of life. John the baptist was foretold in the old testament prophets by malachi and isaiah. Actually john the baptist is the last old testament prophet.
Watts august 9, 1921 july 21, 20 was a baptist theologian and old testament scholar. John the baptist lived with one purpose alone to tell othesr about the coming of jesus christ. Elijah and john the baptist church of the great god. John the baptist, like so many of the old testament prophets, was contrary and confrontational. Apr 08, 2020 as renowned old testament scholar bruce waltke writes in the preface of this book, the old testaments every sentence is fraught with theology, worthy of reflection. John is also credited with writing the three epistles that carry his name. John was the greatest figure yet produced under the old covenant, according to matthew 11. I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way a voice of one calling in the wilderness, prepare the way for the lord, make straight paths for him.
John the baptist is the prophet who links the old and new testament. The major mention of him in the new testament is with reference to his imprisonment and execution of john the baptist. We would have to affirm that john the baptist was indeed a prophet in the same style as the old testament prophets because the old testament covenant was still in effect. Yes malachi is the old testaments last prophet, it is also the last book in the old testament. Sep 24, 20 john the baptist was recognized by his disciples as a rabbi, which means teacher of the law. The old testament is the source of, by one count, 295 references and 600 allusions in the new testament that help us understand who jesus is. Greatness of disciples greatness of john john the baptist. His entrance into the world was marked by angelic proclamation and divine intervention luke 1. John the baptist biblical references old testament.
Baker book house company, grand rapids, michigan usa. John the baptist, prophet of advent and preacher of. Jesus said, for all the prophets and the law prophesied until john. John the baptist or baptizer was the forerunner of jesus.
He spans the ages with one foot firmly planted in the old testament and the other. He is, therefore, the author of five books of the bible. And if you are willing to receive it, he is elijah who is to come matthew 11. This article lists many references to the old testament found on the lips of jesus in the gospels. This book is the result of decades of reflection informed by an extensive knowledge of the hebrew language, the best of critical scholarship, a deep understanding of both the.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Many dont even know that 38 of the current 39 books of the protestant old testament bible were found with the dead sea scrolls in part or even some whole books. The former is a reference to john, the latter is an allusion to christ. Jun 22, 2015 in fact, in matthew 3, john the baptist is described as essentially wearing the costume of the old testament prophet. The old testament covenant system was done away fulfilled and abrogated at the death of christ. Since the large majority of each book and jesus entire earthly ministry occurred before his death then it should be considered that these four books are still in the context of the old covenant. Now john wore a garment of camels hair, and a leather girdle around his waist. John the baptistprophesied in the old testament records. It is also affirmed in other old testament prophesies like isaiah 9. John 1 niv the word became flesh in the bible gateway.
New testament references to old testament scriptures. The new testament places a very high estimate on john the baptist and his ministry. Prophets of old spoke of john and how he would prepare the way for the savior messiah. John the baptist son of zacharias and elisabeth, being of priestly descent through both parents. John 1 niv bible in the beginning was the word, and the. This would explain why paul wrote that jesus was a minister of the circumcision to confirm the promises made unto the fathers romans 15. Was john the baptist of the old or new testament answers. John the baptist the prophet who links the old and new testament. John the baptist is one of the most distinctive characters in the new testament. Baptism of jesus by john both the pharisees and sadducees react to john baptising in the jordan. Accused of being demonised fasting regularly drinking no wine asceticism, people practicing self denial.
The lord taught the significance of baptism to the extent that he himself was baptized by john the baptist at the start of his ministry mark 1. He was the last of the old testament prophets, but also breaking new theological ground as a forerunner pointing to jesus as the lamb of god who takes away the sin of the world, as son of god, as preexistent. John the baptist biblical references old testament prophecy. I tell you that you will see heaven opened and the angels of god going up and coming down on the son of man. It cuts time and hassle by taking you straight to the heart of the things you most want to know about christianity, designed to be read in units of one or two pages. For john came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, he has a demon. Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from the net bible. And so john the baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching.
Christians believe that john the baptist had a specific role ordained by god as forerunner or precursor of jesus, who was the foretold messiah. It is accepted by christians that this old testament passage refers to none other than john the baptist. Wine character assassination abstinence john the baptist. John the baptist was the first to experience the trinity and introduced baptism as a new rite differing from jewish purity rites. Other titles for john include john the forerunner in eastern christianity, john the immerser in some baptist traditions, and the prophet john in islam. I can assure you that john the baptist would not be at the top of the list. The exact number of references to the old testament in. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. He had an unusual flair for fashion, wearing wildlooking clothing made of camels hair and a leather belt around his waist. He drew attention to things usually passed over in polite society, especially the reality of sin and. Jesus references to old testament scriptures jews for jesus. What was the subject of john the baptists preaching. Jan 02, 2020 the significance of baptism as a new testament ceremony is that, as believers in jesus christ, we are baptized into his death romans 6. Scroggie attributes 63 refer ences to mark, 129 to matthew, 90 to luke, and 124 to john.
He was the last and greatest of the old testament prophets, his preaching turned the hearts of the fathers to the children, and he prepared the way for the messiah. Torah five books of moses, prophets or neviim, and writings or ketuvim. Was john the baptist a prophet in the same style as the old testament prophets. Where in the old testament is john the baptist mentioned. John the baptist here also testifies of the preexistence of the messiah. This is completely consistent with the malachi prophecy which john was sent to fulfill. John was foreknown by the determinate council of god. John welch and john hall have produced a book of new testament charts, one of which compares these three groups. They have been organized by the three divisions of the old testament. Therefore when the lord knew that the pharisees had heard that jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than john. We have looked at the prophecy referring to john the baptizer as a voice calling in the wilderness isaiah 40. John the baptist was the last of the old testament prophets. For john the baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, he has a demon.
In the concluding book of the old testament, malachi, on behalf of god, declared. It is evident from this rather long biography that we know more about john s life than the lives of the other gospel writers. John the baptist biblical studies oxford bibliographies. The scriptures foretold that the messiah would be the lord himself, the glorious king, and he. Mark 1 niv john the baptist prepares the way bible gateway. What is john s point in including the cleansing of the temple story at the beginning of jesus ministry. According to the new testament, john the baptist and jesus of nazareth were. John was the last of the ot prophets who completed the final leg of the old testament. Are matthew, mark, luke, and john old testament books. Taken together, we see that john understands the coming of the messiah to be the coming of god himself. Apart from jesus christ, john the baptist is probably the most theologically significant.
As with the two other old testament messages about john which we observed, the new testament gives us a clear explanation. Where is the first mention of john the baptist answers. He is sometimes alternatively called john the baptizer john the baptist is mentioned by the hebrew historian josephus and. Apart from jesus christ, john the baptist is probably the most theologically significant figure in the gospels. Nov 29, 2017 many dont even know that 38 of the current 39 books of the protestant old testament bible were found with the dead sea scrolls in part or even some whole books. The new testament writers clearly expect a working knowledge of the old testament. Now we will link it to another prophecy about john. The birth of john was spoken of by an angel of the lord.
The prophecies in the old testament were very familiar to john. John s birth not only parallels that of jesus, but echoes the momentous occasion of. John the baptist is the new testament forerunner who points the way to the arrival of the lord, just as elijah filled that role in the old testament and might again in the futuresee revelation 11. The word became flesh in the beginning was the word, and the word was with god, and the word was god. This lineage was essential, since john was the embodiment of the law of moses, designed to prepare the way for the messiah and make ready a people to receive him. As scripture reveals, the first mention of john the baptist was in the old testament, by the prophet isaiah, as is so stated in matthew 3. The old testament and the fourth gospel gordon college faculty. John the baptist is in the front of our new testament four times once in each of the four gospels in order to put the law of god in front of us four times just before jesus comes to us four times with gospel. Three old testament prophecies of john the baptizer klang.
John the baptist, the prophesied elijah, appeared as one epoch ended and the next began. With regard to references to the life of jesus in the old testament, the following passages are among the most noteworthy. John the baptist is an enigmatic figure within the new testament. John the baptist was a jewish itinerant preacher in the early 1st century ad. John the baptist appears story of the new testament bible. John is one of the most important prophets to study in the bible as he sits just between the old and new testaments thus joining them. Tradition says that john died as an old man in ephesus near the end of the first century. John the baptist is mentioned in all four canonical gospels and the. He lived in the desert wilderness, ate locust and wild honey and preached a strange message. As was the case with jesus, his birth was meticulously recorded luke 1.