An investigation into the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth : a socio-historical study
The aim of this thesis is to examine and critically evaluate the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth, with special reference to baptism and to the question of whether Jesus practised a baptising ministry in Galilee. This involves us taking a fresh look at the Gospel texts on John and Jesus and considering the possible relevance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Part I provides a preliminary examination of our sources. Part II focuses on possible links between John, the Essenes and the early Church. We argue: (i) that after his birth into a priestly family, John was probably brought up by the Essenes at Qumran, whom he later left to conduct an independent prophetic and baptising ministry by the Jordan; (ii) that the Qumran immersions provide the matrix to John's baptismal rite; (iii) that the affinity between the Essenes and the early Church in ideology and praxis may be owing to the influence of the former upon the latter, with John as the mediator between the two. Against this background, John and Jesus are directly related to each other in Part III. We conclude: (i) that after his baptism by John, Jesus remained a follower of John for a time, and practised a baptising ministry concurrent with
Sefa-Dapaah, Daniel
theology, Christianity, gospels, baptism, Essenes, early church ; Philosophy ; Religion
An investigation into the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth : a socio-historical study. The aim of this thesis is to examine and critically evaluate the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus of Nazareth, with special reference to baptism and to the question of whether Jesus practised a baptising ministry in Galilee. This involves us taking a fresh look at the Gospel texts on John and Jesus and considering the possible relevance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Part I provides a preliminary examination of our sources. Part II focuses on possible links between John, the Essenes and the early Church. We argue: (i) that after his birth into a priestly family, John was probably brought up by the Essenes at Qumran, whom he later left to conduct an independent prophetic and baptising ministry by the Jordan; (ii) that the Qumran immersions provide the matrix to John's baptismal rite; (iii) that the affinity between the Essenes and the early Church in ideology and praxis may be owing to the influence of the former upon the latter, with John as the mediator between the two. Against this background, John and Jesus are directly related to each other in Part III. We conclude: (i) that after his baptism by John, Jesus remained a follower of John for a time, and practised a baptising ministry concurrent with
investigation relationship john baptist jesus socio_historical study aim_examine critically_evaluate relationship john baptist jesus special_reference baptism question_whether jesus practise ministry involves take fresh look gospel text john jesus consider possible relevance dead_sea_scrolls part provide_preliminary examination source part focus possible link john early_church argue birth priestly family john probably bring qumran later leave conduct independent prophetic ministry jordan qumran immersion provide matrix john baptismal rite iii affinity early_church ideology praxis may owe influence former upon latter john mediator background john jesus directly related part_iii conclude baptism john jesus remain follower john time practise ministry concurrent