18
votes
Accepted
What made Jesus question at Mt 21:25 a good example for Christians or was it a bad question because the Jews could not answer?
The question was effective, because it highlighted the hypocrisy of the religious Jews in question. According to the Bible, John was sent from God, and they knew it. Their concern was how answering ...
- 486
17
votes
Accepted
Were John Baptist and Jesus really related?
According to the Bible, Elizabeth (mother of John the Baptist) and Mary (mother of Jesus) were related. Luke 1:5 says that Zechariah belonged to the priestly division of Abijah and his wife Elizabeth ...
- 29.7k
8
votes
Were John Baptist and Jesus really related?
From this article:
https://faithfullymagazine.com/jesus-and-john-the-baptist/
The Bible doesn’t explicitly describe Elizabeth as Mary’s “cousin.”
Instead, the term “relative” or “kinswoman” (sungenis,...
- 11.4k
8
votes
Pharisees and Sadducees - A "brood of vipers"
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? - Luke 3:7
Luke makes it appear that John the Baptist ...
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7
votes
Is John the Baptist a Christian Martyr?
Is John the Baptist a Christian Martyr?
In all honesty, one would have to say no. But that does not mean he was not in a sense a martyr for Christ. His whole life was one of penance and making ready ...
- 67.9k
6
votes
What made Jesus question at Mt 21:25 a good example for Christians or was it a bad question because the Jews could not answer?
Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but ...
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6
votes
What made Jesus question at Mt 21:25 a good example for Christians or was it a bad question because the Jews could not answer?
What made Jesus question at Mt 21:25 so effective or was it a bad question because the Jews could not answer?
Answer: The question was effective, considering:
The context of the question (Matt 21 - ...
- 22.2k
5
votes
Accepted
How was John the Baptist, as a child, protected from Herod's soldiers?
There is a document called the protoevangelium (prequel to the gospel) of St James, the earliest copy of which is said to be third century.
This describes it in more detail.
Chapter 22 verse 3 says
...
- 7,852
4
votes
What was the normal way to cross the Jordan River during first century in Israel?
The first thing I want to do is define this word ford. It is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream may be crossed by wading. A ford is mostly a natural phenomenon, in contrast to a ...
- 701
4
votes
Accepted
Why did John the Baptist say he wasn't a prophet?
Moses told the people to expect in the future an authoritative, law giving prophet of at least equal stature to himself. No other prophet that followed Moses was regarded as important as Moses by the ...
- 11.4k
4
votes
Why did John the Baptist not follow Jesus?
You ask preferably from a Catholic perspective. Sorry I cannot meet your preference, I am (Reformed) Baptist.
John the Baptist had a very important Commission from God, so important it was prophecied ...
- 6,671
3
votes
Accepted
Why Does Herod Say He Had Beheaded John the Baptist When He Knows He's in Prison? (Mark 6)
14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “...
3
votes
Why Does Herod Say He Had Beheaded John the Baptist When He Knows He's in Prison? (Mark 6)
Look at the phraseology of Verse 17 :" For Herod had sent and seized John.." . In terms of English grammar, 'had sent' implies Past Perfect Tense which is used to indicate an action that is already ...
3
votes
Accepted
According to the Catholic Church, what did Jesus mean by saying that the least in the kingdom of heaven in greater than John the Baptist?
I do not believe that there are official statements on the subject of Matthew 11:11, at least not at the level of involving papal infallibility. Nevertheless, there are some Catholic writers and ...
- 67.9k
3
votes
Explain similarities and differences in "sinless from the womb " for James, John the Baptist and Mary
I hadn't previously heard anything of this sort about James, but I'd like to explain the difference between the situations of Mary and John the Baptist.
In the case of Mary, we (Catholics) know, ...
- 2,570
3
votes
In Mormon theology, why didn't John the Baptist baptize Joseph Smith?
+1 for a great question!
I have not found any solid answer or doctrine of the church that refers to this. Perhaps in the Joseph Smith Papers you could find answers there www.josephsmithpapers.org, ...
- 1,573
3
votes
Accepted
Is the root of salvation correctly summed up as "Be saved and repent!" or should it be "Repent and be saved!"?
From the limited quote and from the assumption that the article's author is Reformed, probably the author was emphasizing the election part. I found the magazine's website but Vol 15 Issue 2 is not ...
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3
votes
Pharisees and Sadducees - A "brood of vipers"
The Matthew account gives the impression that John could have baptized some of those Pharisees and Sadducees, because his scathing address to them begins at verse 7 and continues through to the end of ...
- 27k
3
votes
Accepted
How long had John the Baptist been preaching before Jesus started his public ministry?
~6 months is a possible answer, as reviewed by SLM, and supported by the custom of Jewish priests beginning their ministry at the age of 30 (see Numbers 4:3).
Because Luke uses "about" 30 ...
- 11.3k
3
votes
Accepted
What baptismal formula did John the Baptist use?
The early Church record from Christ till the end of the 1st century A.D. does, indeed, provide information that opens up the subject of what John the Baptist said when baptising people.
It is ...
- 27k
2
votes
Why was it so special that John the baptist was not called Zechariah?
I'd like to suggest it has much deeper meaning than most have considered. Names are, indeed, very important in the Bible. When one hears the name "John" in terms of the Bible, there are 2 ...
2
votes
Why did John the Baptist preach repentance through water baptism and specifically how is that different than repentance through ashes and sackcloth?
What made repentance through baptism unique?
Baptism existed prior to John in the conversion of someone to Judaism and in the ordination of priests. Calls for repentance had existed before John ...
- 4,693
2
votes
If Mark's gospel presents Jesus as servant, why does John say he's unworthy to loose his shoes?
There is a difference between someone's worth, or nature, and their actions.
Jesus, in himself, is the Most High God* and worthy of our worship, praise and adoration. Nothing can change that. John is ...
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2
votes
How far advanced was the Virgin Mary's Pregnancy when she returned to Nazareth?
Luke 1:56 says that she stayed with Elizabeth for 3 months. We know for certain, then, that Mary was at least 3 months pregnant with Jesus. She went to Elizabeth when Elizabeth was in her 6th month of ...
2
votes
Why did the unborn child become happy at the voice of Mary's greeting?
The answer is in the very text you quoted. Notice that Elizabeth attributes it to joy over hearing the voice of the "mother of my Lord." This attribution is made while "filled with the Holy Spirit", ...
- 121
2
votes
What part did the Psalms play in Jewish worship?
Josephus mentions the Temple singers of his day:
Those of the Levites...who were singers of hymns urged the king to convene the Sanhedrin and get them permission to wear linen robes on equal terms ...
- 116
2
votes
What part did the Psalms play in Jewish worship?
The recitation and the singing of Psalms played an important part in Jewish worship at the Temple in Jerusalem (prior to its destruction in 70 A.D.). Here are extracts from various articles about ...
- 29.7k
2
votes
How big was the wilderness in which John the Baptist lived and preached?
While the exact location of John's ministry is not known, we know that it was around the Jordan, with John 1:28 specifically placing it at "Bethany beyond the Jordan." The traditional location is ...
- 201
2
votes
How big was the wilderness in which John the Baptist lived and preached?
The Judean Desert or the Wilderness of Judah is a small desert, approximately 1,500 square kilometers or some 600 Square miles and is very close to Jerusalem. Being so close to Jerusalem, it is no ...
- 67.9k
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