chambers_search-1

Search Chambers

Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.

John the Baptist, also called St John 1st century AD
Jewish prophet and ascetic

Born in Judaea, he was the son of the priest Zechariah. His mother was Elizabeth, cousin of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ. He baptized many, including Jesus, at the River Jordan, and preached repentance and forgiveness of sins and about the coming of the Lord. He was executed by Herod, Antipas, but the circumstances differ in the accounts of Josephus and the Gospels. In the New Testament, he is portrayed as Christ's forerunner, and sometimes as a returned Elijah (Matthew 11.13-14). His feast day is 24 June.

Bibliography: Carl H Kraeling, John the Baptist (1951)