St. John the Baptist

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Geertgen tot Sint Jans: John the Baptist in the Wilderness

baptism of Jesus by St. John the Baptist

Correggio: Virgin and Child with the Young Saint John the Baptist

Who was St. John the Baptist, and how did he die?

Giovanni di Paolo: Saint John the Baptist Entering the Wilderness

Saint John the Baptist, fresco by Pinturicchio, 1504-05; in the chapel of St. John Baptist, the cathedral of Siena, Italy

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St. John the Baptist summary

St. John the Baptist

Q: Who was St. John the Baptist?

St. John the Baptist was an ascetic Jewish prophet known in Christianity as the forerunner of Jesus . John preached about God’s Final Judgment and baptized repentant followers in preparation for it. Jesus was among the recipients of his rite of baptism .

Q: Who were St. John the Baptist’s parents?

St. John the Baptist was the son of Zechariah, a Jewish priest of the order of Abijah, and his wife, Elizabeth. According to the New Testament , Elizabeth was a relative of Mary the mother of Jesus .

Q: How did St. John the Baptist die?

Sometime after baptizing Jesus , St. John the Baptist was imprisoned by Herod Antipas for denouncing his marriage, which was illegal under Jewish Law . According to Scripture, Herod’s stepdaughter Salome requested John’s head to please her mother, Herodias , and Herod was obliged to fulfill the request.

Jewish prophet and Christian saint

Also known as: Yaḥyā

Written by John Strugnell

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Mar 15, 2024 • Article History

Geertgen tot Sint Jans: John the Baptist in the Wilderness

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Category: History & Society

Born:: 1st decade bce, Judaea, Palestine, near Jerusalem

Died:: 28–36 ce

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Who was St. John the Baptist?

Who were St. John the Baptist’s parents?

How did St. John the Baptist die?

St. John the Baptist (born 1st decade bce, Judaea, Palestine, near Jerusalem—died 28–36 ce; feast day June 24) was a Jewish prophet of priestly origin who preached the imminence of God’s Final Judgment and baptized those who repented in self-preparation for it; he is revered in the Christian church as the forerunner of Jesus Christ. After a period of desert solitude, John the Baptist emerged as a prophet in the region of the lower Jordan River valley. He had a circle of disciples, and Jesus was among the recipients of his rite of baptism. The primary sources for information about ...(100 of 1440 words)

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