COMMENTARY – 3rd Sunday of Advent B

21 So they asked him [literal Greek = so they questioned him further], "What are you then? Are you Elijah?"  And he said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."

The more literal translation is: They questioned him further (look for a repeat of this phrase). They asked John if he was the 8^th century BC prophet Elijah because everything about John fit the prophecies about the return of Elijah:

• John was ministering at the location where witnesses saw Elijah assumed into heaven on the left side of the Jordan River (Jn 1:28; 2 Kng 2:4, 8, 11, 14).
• He dressed in the same attire as the prophet Elijah (Mt 3:4; 2 Kng 1:8).
• Malachi prophesied Elijah's return before the coming of the Messiah, who would bring a "New Covenant" (Mal 3:1, 23; Jer 31:31).
• John located his ministry at the site of the Jordan River crossing by Joshua and the children of Israel into the Promised Land (Jn 1:28; Josh 3:1, 14-17; see CCC# 718.

For some scholars, it is a problem that John the Baptist does not seem to identify himself as Elijah when this connection seems clear in other passages of the Gospels:

• Mark 1:2 applies the Malachi 3:1 passage to John the Baptist, identifying him as the one with Elijah's spirit and power.  
• Matthew 11:14 reports Jesus's statement concerning John the Baptist: If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.  
• Mark 9:13 and Matthew 16:12 record Jesus declaring that Elijah had already come, presumably in John the Baptist.  

There is no single answer as to why John denies that he is the prophet Elijah, but given the evidence, we can speculate. The angel Gabriel's prophecy to John's father, Zechariah, was that his son would come in Elijah's "spirit and power" (Lk 1:17) and not as Elijah himself.

Some possible answers to the dilemma:

#1: Perhaps sensing the delegation's hostility, John didn't want to "play his hand" quite yet by claiming he has come in fulfillment of the prophecy concerning Elijah. They could charge him with blasphemy or inciting a riot against the Romans who held political control of Judea.

#2:  Perhaps John is denying that he is Elijah because he is discerning that they are asking if he is the reincarnation of Elijah. Reincarnation was not consistent with Old Covenant beliefs, nor is it acceptable in the Christian faith; divine judgment follows physical death (Heb 9:27). The claim of reincarnation would be considered blasphemy. John was not the reincarnation of Elijah any more than Elijah's successor, Elisha, was the reincarnation of his master. Elisha received the fullness of the spirit of prophecy that God placed on His servant Elijah. John received this same anointing of the spirit; therefore, in that sense, he is Elijah's successor. Pope Gregory the Great reconciles this apparent discrepancy by teaching that John was not Elijah, but he exercised toward Jesus the function of Elijah by preparing his way (Patrologia Latina  76:1100).

#3 Some Bible scholars suggest that perhaps John did not fully realize his prophetic role. Those who believe this is the cause for John's denial point out that in Matthew chapter 11, when John is imprisoned and awaiting his execution, he sent his disciples to ask Jesus: "Are you the one who is to come or are we to expect someone else?" Their point is that this passage indicates John does not completely understand God's plan. But other scholars suggest John's disciples and not John were the ones confused, and he sent them to Jesus to confirm His identity. 

Michal E Hunt, Copyright © 2014; revised 2023 Agape Bible Study; used with permission