Jesus as the New Elijah: An Attempt to the Question of John 1:21

Abstract

The activities of John the Baptist along the Jordan made the people wonder who John thought he really was (LK 3:15). Even the Jewish authorities speculated about his identity. And so, according to John 1:19–28, they sent a delegation to question him, ”Who are you?” When asked by that delegation whether he is Elijah, John the Baptist replies, ”I am not.” This answer is quite surprising, because it seems to contradict what the Synoptic Gospels say about him. As a matter of fact, in Mk 1:6 he is depicted as wearing clothing like Elijah, and in Mt 11:14 Jesus himself identifies him with Elijah who ”is to come.” Why does the Fourth Gospel avoid any identification of John the Baptist with Elijah? Several solutions to this problem have been proposed by commentators. This paper aims to propose a further solution which seems to do greater justice to the theology of the Fourth Gospel. In the present writer's opinion, John the Baptist is made to refuse the role of Elijah because in the Fourth Gospel it is Jesus himself who is going to be depicted as the New Elijah. A close comparison between the Elijan texts in the Septuagint and the Fourth Gospel reveals that there are many similarities between them concerning the theme, situation, plot, and even in words. Last but not least, like Elijah, the hero of the living and life-giving Yahweh, in the Fourth Gospel Jesus is proclaimed as the Prophet of the living and life-giving God.