Who
The son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Christ’s kinsman and forerunner. He leapt for joy in his mother’s womb at the coming of Mary (Luke 1:41), and was “filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb” (Luke 1:15), so that the Church keeps the feast of his birth, as it does only Christ’s and Mary’s. He preached repentance in the wilderness, baptized Jesus in the Jordan, and pointed him out: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). Christ said that “among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater” (Matthew 11:11). He was beheaded by Herod Antipas (Mark 6:17–29).
Key verses
- Matthew 11:11
Most certainly I tell you, among those who are born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.
- Luke 1:13
But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
- Luke 1:15
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.
- John 1:29
The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
- John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.
Where the Bible names him
Family
Discussed by
Comments on the verses that name him (8 of 165).
- Augustine of Hippo on Matthew 1:2Catena Aurea on Matthew
Matthew, by beginning with Christ’s genealogy, shews that he has undertaken to relate Christ’s birth according to the flesh. But Luke, as rather describing Him as a Priest for the atonement of sin, gives Christ’s…
- Remigius of Auxerre on Matthew 14:6–12 (3)Catena Aurea on Matthew
Otherwise; The beheading of John marks the increase of that fame which Christ has among the people, as the exaltation of the Lord upon the cross marks the progress of the faith; whence John had said, “He must…
- John Chrysostom on Matthew 11:11Catena Aurea on Matthew
Having first delivered the Prophet’s testimony in praise of John, He rested not there, but added His own decision respecting him, saying, “Among them that are born of women there has not arisen a greater than John…
- John Chrysostom on Luke 1:11–14Catena Aurea on Luke
When Zacharias entered into the temple to offer up prayers to God for all men, interceding between God and man, he saw an angel standing within, as it is said, And there appeared unto him an angel.
- Rabanus Maurus on Matthew 11:11Catena Aurea on Matthew
As much as to say; What need to recount one by one the praises of John the Baptist; “I say verily unto you, Among them that are born of women, &c.” He says women, not virgins. If the same word, mulier, which denotes…
- Ambrose of Milan on Luke 1:11–14Catena Aurea on Luke
It is well said that there appeared an angel to Zacharias, who suddenly beheld him; and this is the expression especially used by Divine Scripture with respect to angels or God, that what cannot be seen beforehand…
- Jerome on Matthew 11:11Catena Aurea on Matthew
He is then set before all those that are born in wedlock, and not before Him who was born of the Virgin and the Holy Spirit; yet these words, “there has not arisen a greater than John the Baptist,” do not imply that…
- Origen on Luke 1:11–14Catena Aurea on Luke
And we speak thus not only of the present time, but also of the future. When we shall have passed from the world, God will not appear unto all men, nor will the angels, but unto him only who has a clean heart. The…