How was John the Baptist martyred?

Answer 1

Answer

King Herod was fooled into ordering his head on a platter. He was thus killed by beheading. This terrible event is recorded in the New Testament Gospels of Matthew 14:1-12, Mark 6:14-29 and Luke 9:7-9.

Answer

According to the gospels, John the Baptist was arrested and held in prison early in the mission of Jesus, probably around 29 CE. Herod Antipas' wife, Herodias, had a quarrel with John the Baptist and would have killed him if she could but, at a royal party in Galilee for the senior men of the kingdom, told her daughter to ask for his head on a platter. On this view, John was beheaded, although Herod would have allowed him to live.

We have one other source of information on John the Baptist. The Jewish historian Josephus said that Herod Antipas had the Baptist killed in quite different circumstances and several years later than the gospel story would allow, because he disapproved of Antipas' marriage to his own brother's wife, who divorced her husband in order to marry Herod Antipas. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews: Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death. In this historian's account, there is no provision for anyone to ask for John's head on a platter. Moreover, the party described in the gospels would have been held in Galilee, if at all, but Josephus says that John was imprisoned and executed in faraway Macherus. He might have been beheaded, if that suited Herod Antipas, but not in Galilee and not at anyone else's request.

Answer

John was beheaded under orders from King Herod.

Answer 2

John was beheaded in prison and his head was delivered on a platter to the girl, who brought it to her mother. John's disciples later came and removed John's body and buried him, reporting the matter to Jesus. (Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:21-29)

Answer 3

AnswerThe Jewish historian, Josephus, tells us that John the Baptist was imprisoned and executed because he publicly objected to Herod Antipas marrying his brother's former wife, Herodias. The marriage took place in 34 CE and John seems to have been executed in 35 or perhaps early 36 CE. Josephus places the marriage of Antipas to his brother's former wife, Herodias, at the same time as, or shortly after, the death of Philip II, who he says died in the twentieth year of the reign of Tiberius (34 CE). John was highly critical of this marriage, causing Antipas to fear that he would cause an insurrection: 'Herod, who feared lest the great influence John had over the people might put it into his power and inclination to raise a rebellion, (for they seemed ready to do any thing he should advise) thought it best, by putting him to death, to prevent any mischief he might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties, by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly he was sent a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I before mentioned, and was there put to death.'

Josephus makes it clear that Antipas intended to execute John, and it seems most improbable that he would long delay the execution if he feared an insurrection by John's supporters. The execution would have quickly followed the imprisonment.

Additionally, King Aretas attacked and defeated Antipas in 36 CE in revenge for the slight to his daughter, whom Antipas divorced in order to marry Herodias. We can expect a one or two year delay during which the news reached Aretas and he considered a diplomatic solution or demanded compensation, then raised an army, but an angry father is not likely to have waited ten years to take action.

Some of the Jews believed that Antipas' defeat was divine retribution for his execution of John: Now the Jews had an opinion that the destruction of this army was sent as a punishment upon Herod, and a mark of God's displeasure to him.

This association makes it most likely that John's death was a quite recent event at the time of the defeat - closer in time to the battle than to the wedding, and certainly not something that occurred 8 or 10 years earlier.

Another AnswerJohn the Baptist died in the year 32 or 33 give or take a few years depending upon calendar adjustments.

John was beheaded by Herod about the year 31-33 AD.

Another Answer (2)

There vare various answers.

(1) Unknown

That's the easy way out, but scholars - both secular and Biblical - have determined several actual times.

(2) Josephus [in his "Jewish Antiquities"]

[Secular scholar]

Dated it to 36AD

(From articles "John the Baptist and Josephus " [Goldberg]

and "Herod Antipas" [FORMERTHINGS] )

(3) Christine Saulnier

[Secular scholar]

Dates it after 28AD but before 36AD

"Their marriage may have taken place earlier than 34 CE and John executed earlier than 35-36 CE.:-

"However, the scholar Christiane Saulnier published a paper in 1984 arguing that the marriage can be placed in 24 to 28 CE using evidence from Josephus,....Thus, Saulnier asks whether the date of this battle [against King Aretas] might have been well before the year 36 CE in which Josephus places it. "

[from "John the Baptist and Josephus - The Argument of Saulnier " [Goldberg] )

(3)Dr Stephen E Jones, Chuck Missler PhD

[Bible scholars]

Prophecy is pattern.

Directly linked to Christ's birth, baptism, and Day of Atonement.

-Live goat [John] killed in Jerusalem while simultaneously Scapegoat [Christ] baptized and released to wilderness.

Dates it to October 16th of 28AD on the 10th of Tishri (Day of Atonement).

All these dates are irreconciliable, but one has to make up their own mind. In his article "John the Baptist and Josephus - The Argument of Saulnier " the author Goldberg ends

:

" Conclusions about Saulnier's Discussion

Considering the arguments as a whole, Saulnier does propose a possible way in which Josephus' chronology can be reconciled with the gospels'. For believers in the basic accuracy of the gospels, that is enough. But if one regards the gospels' dating as suspect and solely works from Josephus' text, then Saulnier's discussion pushes the date back some but does not produce any firm evidence identifying the date of Herodias' marriage as occurring before the early 30's CE.

The reader can choose between these alternatives according to his or her own predisposition. "

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Answer 4

Another answer from our community::

The sad end of this great man of God is told in the following verses (Matthew 14:1-12): At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

2And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 3For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. 4For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. 5And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. 8And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. 9And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. 10And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. 11And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. 12And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

Answer 5

A:According to the gospels, John the Baptist was arrested and held in prison early in the mission of Jesus, probably around 29 CE. Herod Antipas' wife, Herodias, had a quarrel with John the Baptist and would have killed him if she could but, at a royal party in Galilee for the senior men of the kingdom, told her daughter to ask for his head on a platter. On this view, John was beheaded, although Herod would have allowed him to live.

This account differs from that of the Jewish historian Josephus, who says that Herod Antipas had the Baptist arrested and killed in the castle of Macherus, east of the Dead Sea, because he disapproved of Antipas' marriage to his own brother's wife, who divorced her husband in order to marry Herod Antipas. The wedding took place in 34 CE and the execution of John would have been in 35 or 36 CE. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews:

"Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

Since the gospels are in error as to the place and year of John's execution, as well as the reason for his execution, it is at least possible that he was not beheaded. We do not know the method of execution.

Answer 6

John was beheaded under orders from King Herod.

AnswerAccording to the gospels, John the Baptist was arrested and held in prison early in the mission of Jesus, probsbly around 29 CE. Herod Antipas' wife, Herodias, had a quarrel with John the Baptist and would have killed him if she could but, at a royal party in Galilee for the senior men of the kingdom, told her daughter to ask for his head on a platter. On this view, John was beheaded, although Herod would have allowed him to live.

This account differs from that of the Jewish historian Josephus, who says that Herod Antipas had the Baptist arrested and killed in the castle of Macherus, east of the Dead Sea, because he disapproved of Antipas' marriage to his own brother's wife, who divorced her husband in order to marry Herod Antipas. The wedding took place in 34 CE and the execution of John would have been in 35 or 36 CE. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews:

"Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

Since the gospels are in error as to the place and year of John's execution, as well as the reason for his execution, it is at least possible that he was not beheaded. We do not know how he died.

Answer 7

He was beheaded.

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May I quote from the book of Mark 22? And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

Answer 8

A:First, the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) say that John the Baptist was beheaded at a party in Galilee by Herod Antipas, on a whim of his wife. This took place around 29 CE, shortly after the beginning of the mission of Jesus. The author of John's Gospel appears to have been more fully aware of Jewish history and culture than were the other authors, and could have known that John the Baptist was really executed much later than this. He is ambiguous as to whether John was executed during the lifetime of Jesus, and provides evidence that John was alive longer than in the synoptics.

The Jewish historian Josephus said that Herod Antipas had the Baptist arrested and killed in the castle of Macherus, east of the Dead Sea, because he disapproved of Antipas' marriage to his own brother's wife, who divorced her husband in order to marry Herod Antipas. The wedding took place in 34 CE and the execution of John would have been in 35 or 36 CE. What Josephus does not tell us is exactly how John died, but the other errors and inconsistencies in the gospel account do not give reason to believe he was beheaded. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of theJews:

"Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

Answer 9

According to the gospels, John the Baptist was arrested and held in prison early in the mission of Jesus, probably around 29 CE. Herod Antipas' wife, Herodias, had a quarrel with John the Baptist and would have killed him if she could but, at a royal party in Galilee for the senior men of the kingdom, told her daughter to ask for his head on a platter. On this view, John was beheaded, although Herod would have allowed him to live.

We have one other source of information on John the Baptist. The Jewish historian Josephus said that Herod Antipas had the Baptist killed in quite different circumstances and several years later than the gospel story would allow, because he disapproved of Antipas' marriage to his own brother's wife, who divorced her husband in order to marry Herod Antipas. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews: Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death. In this historian's account, there is no provision for anyone to ask for John's head on a platter. Moreover, the party described in the gospels would have been held in Galilee, if at all, but Josephus says that John was imprisoned and executed in faraway Macherus. He might have been beheaded, if that suited Herod Antipas, but not in Galilee and not at anyone else's request.

Answer 10

The Jewish historian, Josephus, says that John the baptist was imprisoned and executed in the fortress castle of Macherus, just to the east of the Dead Sea and quite some distance from Galilee.
The New Testament gospels indicate that John the Baptist died somewhere around 29 CE, probably in Galilee, since Herod Antipas was having a feast for the chief men of Galilee and would not have required them to travel to a distant part of his domain for this purpose.

The first century Jewish historian, Josephus, tells us that Herod imprisoned and executed John the Baptist in 35-36 CE in the castle of Macherus, to the east of the Dead Sea. We are not certain where he was killed. We do know that he was taken prisoner and beheaded under orders from King Herod. That would have taken place either at Herod's fortress of Machaerus, not far from Jerusalem, or in Herod's palace at Jerusalem.

We are not certain where he was killed. We do know that he was taken prisoner and beheaded under orders from King Herod. That would have taken place either at Herod's fortress of Machaerus, not far from Jerusalem, or in Herod's palace at Jerusalem. John the Baptist was executed on the orders of Herod Antipas, Tetrarch of Galilee, and would have taken place within his domain, not in Jerusalem or any part of Roman Judea. The first-century Jewish historian, Josephus, tells us that he died in 35 or 36 CE in the castle of Macherus, which was in Antipas' territory to the east of the Dead Sea.