Friday, April 24, 2009

John the Baptist a Prophet, or not?

--Continuing Answers to Openyourmind786, Issues:

The Issue:

MT 17:12-13 Jesus says that John the Baptist was a prophet, and more. JN 1:21 John himself says that he is not a prophet, nor is he Elijah.

My Answer:

Where does it say anywhere in MT 17:12-13 that Jesus said John the Baptist was a prophet?

MT 17:12-13: "But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist."
Then you refer to JN 1:21, correctly, where John answers that no he is not a prophet. But you left out the next two verses (22-23) where John, the Baptist, goes on to clarify and answer the question of who he actually is. "21: And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.
22: Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23: He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias."


Just as the Scriptures say, John the Baptist is the one prophesied about by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 40:3). This is one of the good and rational reasons why we can believe that it is the Bible that is the true word of God, and not a different book, such as the Koran. The Bible accurately fortold future events, 100% of the time.. Also, one of the tests of a true prophet of God, is that a true prophet of God is never wrong. A true prophet of God never makes false statements. True God is all knowing. John 1:6-9 also explains who John the Baptist was. "6: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7: The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8: He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light."

--dc

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