This new video from the outstanding LDS Bible Videos series features Matthew 11 with Jesus' commentary on John the Baptist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4uK6kUfoyQ
Matthew 11:11:
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist.What do we know about him beyond the short verses in the Bible?
Via Joseph we also have John's testimony of Christ in D&C 93, which is among the most beautifully expressed that I'm aware of:
7 I saw his glory, that he was in the beginning, before the world was;8 Therefore, in the beginning the Word was, for he was the Word, even the messenger of salvation—9 The light and the Redeemer of the world; the Spirit of truth, who came into the world, because the world was made by him, and in him was the life of men and the light of men.10 The worlds were made by him; men were made by him; all things were made by him, and through him, and of him.11 And I, John, bear record that I beheld his glory, as the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, even the Spirit of truth, which came and dwelt in the flesh, and dwelt among us....15 And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son.
Some have questioned whether this was John the Beloved or John the Baptist, due to its similarity to St John 1.
Reading the text that is given I have presumed it to be John the Baptist, especially due to this verse in D&C 93:
15 And I, John, bear record, and lo, the heavens were opened, and the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and sat upon him, and there came a voice out of heaven saying: This is my beloved Son.
Bruce R. McConkie said this:
From latter-day revelation we learn that the material in the forepart of the gospel of John (the Apostle, Revelator, and Beloved Disciple) was written originally by John the Baptist. By revelation the Lord restored to Joseph Smith part of what John the Baptist had written and promised to reveal the balance when men became sufficiently faithful to warrant receiving it...Even without revelation, however, it should be evident that John the Baptist had something to do with the recording of events in the forepart of John's gospel, for some of the occurrences include his conversations with the Jews and a record of what he saw when our Lord was baptized-all of which matters would have been unknown to John the Apostle whose ministry began somewhat later than that of the Baptist's. There is little doubt but that the Beloved Disciple had before him the Baptist's account when he wrote his gospel. The latter John either copied or paraphrased what the earlier prophet of the same name had written.
Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-1973], 1: 71.
Also, the Oct 1999 Ensign it discusses this and suggests that John the Beloved is quoting John the Baptist in the first chapter of The Gospel of John:
"...it is likely that the John who “saw and bore record” is John the Baptist. John the Beloved probably either copied from John the Baptist’s own written record or originally recorded it in his Gospel. 14 The record which the Lord says “is hereafter to be revealed” may be that of either or both of these faithful servants. This pattern is similar to the first chapter of the Gospel of John, wherein the writer, John the Beloved, is quoting the speaker, John the Baptist, and both are testifying of Christ." - JONN D. CLAYBAUGH
What's interesting about D&C 93 is it follows a model that often reoccurs. When Joseph quotes an ancient patriarch (sometimes with unknown/newly restored texts) it is often to introduce or reaffirm a new concept or doctrine. Or at least one that may have been new to the early saints.
As Claybaugh observes:
Among the great truths we learn from and have confirmed in section 93 are the following: Christ was in the beginning before the world was; the worlds and all things were made by Christ; He is the life and light of men; the Savior did not receive of a fulness of knowledge, power, and glory at the first, but progressively received grace for grace; Jesus eventually received all power, both in heaven and on earth; and if we are faithful we shall receive the fulness of the record of John.
And the JSP Editors observation on the 6 May 1833 Revelation is:
But most of this revelation is distinctly theological in nature. The circumstances surrounding the revelation are not certain, although this text possibly illuminated doctrinal issues raised in recent sessions of Kirtland, Ohio’s school of the prophets. It also may have been prompted by JS’s revision of the New Testament, which was completed in February 1833. Regardless, this revelation was of great importance to the early church.
In the King Follett discourse Joseph wryly observes:
It is not all to be comprehended in this world; it will be a great work to learn our salvation and exaltation even beyond the grave. I suppose I am not allowed to go into an investigation of anything that is not contained in the Bible. If I do, I think there are so many over-wise men here that they would cry “treason” and put me to death. So I will go to the old Bible and turn commentator today.
I suppose we have the same today. General Conference is full of Prophets quoting Prophets. One of the things I really appreciated about The God Who Weeps was the appreciation of how brilliantly Joseph gathered truth. Not just a restoration but a distillation. And one that was not completed but is ongoing.
No comments:
Post a Comment