Was John the Baptist More Than a Prophet?

Before Jesus proclaims his message in the Gospels, another voice is already thundering across the wilderness. The sacred historians begin not with Jesus, but with John—a figure so enigmatic that the crowds asked him whether he was Elijah, the Prophet, or even the Messiah.

In this class, we explore why John provoked such questions. Why did Jesus say that “among those born of women none is greater”? And are those who are least in the kingdom greater than John? Drawing from the Hebrew Bible, Josephus, early Christian writings, and the earliest gospel traditions, we’ll examine the roles John refused, the roles others placed upon him, and the extraordinary role Jesus claimed for him.

Join me as we consider whether he was far more than a prophet—and why the answer still matters.

Watch the video [⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠]