Bible Discussion Thread

So , assuming that we all agree that in the New Testament , when it mentions Elias it's referring to Elijah and likening him to John the Baptist ? If this is correct , can anyone tell me what is meant in Mark chapter 9 verse 13 . It seems to imply that it's written somewhere in the Old Testament , the fate of John the Baptist ( beheaded by Herod ) , or do we just think that it means that as Elijah passed his ministry on to Elisha , then like wise did John the Baptist pass his ministry on to Jesus ? All answers appreciated thanks .

Hello Sammi.

Indeed Elijah becomes Elias in NT, like Isaiah becomes Esias. Since the New Testament was written for greek speaking people the authors of the 4 gospels used the greek forms of those hebrew names.

So at a time the apostles asked Jesus ( Mark 9:11-13), "And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?" Jesus answered to them , "And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him."

Jesus is refering to the prophesy written in Malachi 4:5-6, "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

And He tells His disciples that Elias has indeed come, he was actually John the Baptist. Jesus' words "as it is written of him" are refering to Elias coming before Jesus and restoring things for Him, not to what happened to him.

Thank you for that , I've been wracking my brains trying to think where in the old testament it could be talking about John the Baptist death . Thanks again .