(February 11, 2023 at 12:52 am)GrandizerII Wrote: The only Gospel that ascribes some form of divinity to Jesus is John.
But anyhow, if you want the question answered from a Christian perspective (instead of, say, from the perspective of a secular historian), then here's what the Gospel of John says was the purpose of John the Baptist:
Quote:John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'"
That was his purpose. His purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus, in fulfilment of a prophecy. He was not meant to be an Apostle of Jesus.
And John the Baptist did join his movement, actually, by believing.
Well, you should have read more of my posts where I talk about the verses that show rivalries and differences between the two sects.
So considering those rivalries it seems like the verse(s) you mention are more Gospel writers trying to win over the Baptist flock, going out of their way to convince his followers that John was a great guy, but NOT the Messiah. Like when Luke 3:15-16 tries to downplay the fact that people argued that John was Christ. Or that Gospel of John that you mention is Baptizer repeatedly denying point-blank that he is the Christ.
teachings of the Bible are so muddled and self-contradictory that it was possible for Christians to happily burn heretics alive for five long centuries. It was even possible for the most venerated patriarchs of the Church, like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas, to conclude that heretics should be tortured (Augustine) or killed outright (Aquinas). Martin Luther and John Calvin advocated the wholesale murder of heretics, apostates, Jews, and witches. - Sam Harris, "Letter To A Christian Nation"
