John the Baptist in History and Theology

"a highly persuasive commentary on the act of balancing theological and scholarly considerations with the varying reports about John the Baptist in the New TestamentMarcus has faced the hermeneutical challenge of envisioning a more robust Baptist figure and has succeeded in convincing the reader that there is nothing to fear from the act of restoring those personality traits to John that were deemed by earlier generations of Christians to be too embarrassing to retain: his self-confidence, competitive spirit, and conviction of purpose."—The Catholic Biblical Quarterly

"Marcus's book on the Baptist is learned, insightful, and provocative. The author considers all relevant ancient Jewish and early Christian evidence, and then reaches further, drawing interesting analogies from later Mandean, Islamic, and even Baha'i sources. From now on, scholars thinking about John the Baptist should start right here."—Jonathan Klawans, Boston University

"It is high time for a new study of the historical John the Baptist, and Joel Marcus reviews the evidence with a fine eye for detail and sensitivity to issues of ancient polemic. This is a rich scholarly study that provides both historical and theological reflections, and much food for thought."—Joan Taylor, King's College London

"No one can understand the historical Jesus without first coming to grips with John the Baptist. In a study that is massively researched, brimming with insights, and engagingly written, Joel Marcus has provided a compelling account that should be the definitive statement of our generation"—Bart D. Ehrman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"This is an exemplary work of historical reconstruction—informed, rigorously critical, and imaginative in the best sense of the word. The intriguing cross-cultural parallels are an added bonus. If you want to know about the historical John the Baptist, this is the place to start."—Dale C. Allison, Jr., Princeton Theological Seminary