I'd like to open this discussion for John the Baptist (hereafter JtB) as it's the part of my Jesus Timeline where my knowledge is the most fuzzy.
JtB's imprisonment and execution are some of the historical landmarks in the Gospel accounts. According to all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matt and Luke), Jesus only started his ministry after JtB was put into prison. John contradicts this point, flatly stating that Jesus started his ministry well before JtB was arrested, but that's just one of many ways John's Gospel sits oddly alongside the others and a different topic.
According to Luke, JtB started his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius, which would place the very beginning (not end) of his ministry around 29 CE, perhaps as early as 28 CE.
According to the Bible and corroborated by Josephus, JtB spoke out against Herod Antipas' marriage to his dead brothers widow, which involved dumping his own wife and marrying his niece. Antipas responded by throwing JtB into prison and later executing him.
The definite dates I have are on Herod's brother (Philip) who died in 33/34 CE, which would put the dates of the marriage afterwards. His jilted wife learned of Antipas' plans and fled to her father's kingdom. Her father, Aratas, was rather teed off and took it personally, waging war with Antipas in response. The subsequent battle was in 36 CE just before the death of Emperor Tiberius. So these dates would put JtB's imprisonment somewhere in the ballpark of 35 CE, give or take a year.
Apologists try to claim that Antipas stole his brother's wife while Philip was still alive, pushing the dates of JtB's imprisonment to 27 CE. The three problems here, aside from this being an unsubstantiated ad hoc, is that Philip was the ruler of his own section of Judea and had no problem with this? And JtB was imprisoned a year before he started his ministry? And there's not enough time between the governorship of Quirinius (6 CE at the earliest) and for Jesus to be "about 30" in 28 CE.
I look forward to Minimalist educating me if he will do me the honor. He's so much more well-read on ancient history than I. Others are also welcome to educate me.
JtB's imprisonment and execution are some of the historical landmarks in the Gospel accounts. According to all three of the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matt and Luke), Jesus only started his ministry after JtB was put into prison. John contradicts this point, flatly stating that Jesus started his ministry well before JtB was arrested, but that's just one of many ways John's Gospel sits oddly alongside the others and a different topic.
According to Luke, JtB started his ministry in the 15th year of Tiberius, which would place the very beginning (not end) of his ministry around 29 CE, perhaps as early as 28 CE.
According to the Bible and corroborated by Josephus, JtB spoke out against Herod Antipas' marriage to his dead brothers widow, which involved dumping his own wife and marrying his niece. Antipas responded by throwing JtB into prison and later executing him.
The definite dates I have are on Herod's brother (Philip) who died in 33/34 CE, which would put the dates of the marriage afterwards. His jilted wife learned of Antipas' plans and fled to her father's kingdom. Her father, Aratas, was rather teed off and took it personally, waging war with Antipas in response. The subsequent battle was in 36 CE just before the death of Emperor Tiberius. So these dates would put JtB's imprisonment somewhere in the ballpark of 35 CE, give or take a year.
Apologists try to claim that Antipas stole his brother's wife while Philip was still alive, pushing the dates of JtB's imprisonment to 27 CE. The three problems here, aside from this being an unsubstantiated ad hoc, is that Philip was the ruler of his own section of Judea and had no problem with this? And JtB was imprisoned a year before he started his ministry? And there's not enough time between the governorship of Quirinius (6 CE at the earliest) and for Jesus to be "about 30" in 28 CE.
I look forward to Minimalist educating me if he will do me the honor. He's so much more well-read on ancient history than I. Others are also welcome to educate me.
Atheist Forums Hall of Shame:
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
"The trinity can be equated to having your cake and eating it too."
... -Lucent, trying to defend the Trinity concept
"(Yahweh's) actions are good because (Yahweh) is the ultimate standard of goodness. That’s not begging the question"
... -Statler Waldorf, Christian apologist
