When asked "Are you Elijah?" John the Baptist replied, 'I AM NOT" John 1:21. Yet Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 11:13-14, "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John came; and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come."

So was John the Baptist Elijah (symbolically) or was he not? If he was, why did he deny it? If he was not, why did Jesus say he was?

I have non-believing friends who refute the authority of the Bible based on points such as this. It would help to reach them if I had an answer for them.

Ardith,

Here is a posting made earlier in April to a similar question. Perhsps someone else has further comment. It is quite easy to find seemingly contradictions in the Bible, but those looking for truth will find it. God bless you in your efforts to help others find the way.


Brad,

I found your question intriguing and so I have done a little research that I hope is helpful.

Malachi 4:5 states that Elijah the Prophet will precede the coming of the Day of the Lord, which is commonly understood to mean the Day of Judgment. Malachi 3:1 seems to also refer to Elijah or a type of Elijah.

NKJ Malachi 3:1 "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," Says the Lord of hosts.

NKJ Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

The Jews expected to one day see Elijah (who never died, but was taken up to heaven by a whirlwind in a fiery chariot (2 Kings 2:11) return to earth.

In John 1:21 when John was asked, "Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No" , it is believed that he was answering the question in response to their question of Elijah (having never died) – as meaning no, I am not Elijah returned in the flesh. His response to the question regarding whether or not he was a prophet was not – no, I am not a prophet, but no, I am not THE prophet, either meaning again Elijah or the "prophet like unto Moses", who was Jesus.

Verse 22 They said then to him, 'Who art thou, that we may give an answer to those sending us? what dost thou say concerning thyself?' 23 He said, 'I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.' "

Jesus says in Matthew 11:10 "For this is he of whom it is written: 'Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.' " quoting Malachi 3:1.

So it does seem confusing. John is saying he is not Elijah reincarnated and Jesus is saying that John came in the spirit of Elijah in the sense that he preceded Him to prepare His way.

John comes in the spirit of Elijah and precedes the Messiah's first coming. Elijah will precede Jesus' second coming and in fact did appear with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration. Some believe Revelation indicates he may precede Him again before the Day of the Lord.

I hope this has been a help to you.

Blessings,

Chelki

I am not sure how it goes but I feel it is like this - Remember Elisha? He asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit - & when Elijah was caught up by that firey chariot thats exactly what he got or was it? I believe it was that one & selfsame spirit, the Holy Spirit, & That John the baptist was operating in the Holy Spirit Just like Elijah - wich would be heaps more than the average citizen.

Slade,

Your comment about the Holy Spirit is well taken. As there were 7,000 more prophets in Elijah's time, I wonder how many more were directed by the Spirit in John's time – there were Simeon and Anna also.

Blessings,

Chelki

excuse me but what version does it say that God is slow to anger in exodous? I just did a search & found that phrase in Nehamiah, Joel, Jonah, Nahum & 2x in the Psalms along with 2 more times in proverbs but those 2 are refering to men not God.

Exodus 34
6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD , the LORD , the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,

NIV

Thanks Shawn, I don't have my NIV with me, but it is my usual study Bible. However, I found the New American Standard reads the same.

The King James Version uses the word "long suffering", which means "enduring provocation long and patiently", which I think could be taken to mean slow to anger.

There is a classic song titled "HaShem HaShem" based upon this verse and its wonderful description God gave of Himself!

Blessings,

Chelki

Hello Ardith! and you all! , but how are you all doing?

Now, as I can see! , looks like to me! , it is really on! , back in the bible days/breaking of bread fellowship, laborers in Our Lord's vineyard, working together, to establish facts leading to righteousness/the truth on this board! , as it is demostrated in our lives,

but by listening, I'm impressed at these views, about different comments, leading to knowing the truth to establish.

Ardith, I would like to ask you this question, since John replied the way that he did, do you think Jesus was talking about one or two different people but with the same spirit, or how do you see yourself? , hopefully as one would be your answer,

so then can you see clearly that John was not Elijah, but theirself, (because of our body, mind, spirit) connecting with the spirit of God at that time and with that person/spirit and power of Elijah/that God reveals Acts 2:4.

Looking at Malachi 3:1 and 4:4-5 and comparing them to what Jesus said about John the Baptist, it looks like John did fulfill the role of Elijah prophesied, but not literally. In other words, John came in the spirit and power of Elijah as the angel of the Lord told his father Zacharias(Luke 1:17). Jesus confirmed this (Matthew 11:10).

In the book of Revelation, it appears that Elijah himself will physically return to earth to warn mankind of the coming Day of the Lord; of the Great Tribulation(Revelation 11-12). Perhaps John the Baptist was saying he is not the same person as Elijah, (because there is no reincarnation),but Jesus was clarifying that John was the person sent "in the spirit and power of Elijah."

Well Ardith! Yep! , and I'm Impressed that you have allowed his/spirit to reveal that issue out soo well, that you can explain how his spirit move in and out of each of our lives,

so then please! stay that course of encouragement as his/Jesus/spirit will lead you also for that/utterance.

Matthew 4:4, Colossians 3:17, (soo quick and powerful).

We love you all,

your Brother and Sister in Christ Walter, Jr. and Deborah.