1 - Introductory

Summary

The treatment in the Fourth Gospel of the ministry of John the Baptist and its relation to the Ministry of Jesus Christ has traits which set it apart from the rest of this gospel as well as from the Synoptic presentation of the same theme. In the work of the Baptist in and for itself the Fourth Evangelist shows little interest–even less, perhaps, than Mark, who has given a sketch of his personal appearance and habits, and a brief characterization, as well as an account of his death. There is nothing here of the prophet of judgement depicted in Matthew and Luke, or of the preacher of righteousness whose down-to-earth morality is exemplified in a passage peculiar to the latter. As might have been expected, the Fourth Evangelist is not concerned to record either the birth and parentage or the death of the Baptist. So far as he may be said to relate any incidents in his life, his report has little contact with that of the other gospels. He is interested in the Baptist solely as the forerunner and herald, or, in his own words, the ‘witness’, to the Messiah. Upon this aspect of his mission he dwells at greater length than the other evangelists, and makes statements which go beyond anything that they report.