Birth of John the Baptist

The only place in the New Testament to describe the birth of John the Baptist is in the Book of Luke. The author of Luke is unknown but it is written in the name of the Christian character Luke the healer, who was not a disciple of Jesus but a friend of Paul. We know that the Book of Luke could not have been written before 93AD because the author used Josephus' Jewish Antiquities. Thus any friend of Paul would be either dead or well into senility by 93 AD. Even though the author of Luke is unknown we do know what references he used in the construction of his work. He used not only Josephus but also relied heavily on the Old Testament, the Gospel of Mark, and possible even used a text called the “Nativity of John the Immerser” which is suppose to be in existence during the late 1st century.

We also know that there were two versions of Luke. The first version lacked the birth narratives from Luke 1:5 to 2:52. In a later version the birth stories were inserted. Noting the references used and the two versions of Luke being produced it has been concluded that the Book of Luke was written by an anonymous Christian about 100 AD with the book being altered and edited until. 150 - 175 AD.

The purpose of writing the Book of Luke is demonstrated in the prologue.

In other words Luke is going to set straight all the stories that are running about and tell the reader what the truth is –that is, in accordance with Christian theology. The fact that Luke mentions there are many narratives or stories, we can conclude that some of these stories circulating are not in line with traditional Christian thought and may even represent another line of thought.

The birth of John the Baptist is also related in the Mandaean texts, a non-Christian source that could shed light on the other side of the coin. We know that the Mandaeans texts with their unique language were in place by the birth of Mani because he used various sections of Mandaean literature in the construction of his own religion. Going back further we find Lucian of Samosta, 2nd Century, who gives an account of a group of people on the Euphrates River in Northern Syria who match the Mandaeans. We also know that the Elchasites, who trace their religion back to about 100 AD after they were associated with the Sobiai- a variation on the name Sabian (the Mandaeans). And finally we know that Pliny in the early 70’s AD locates a group of people he calls the ‘Nazerimi in Northern Syria, once again the description fits the Mandaeans. This places the Mandaeans at the same time and in the same area as the author of Luke. Instead of looking at the Mandaean literature using Luke as a source of John the Baptist, this article is going to take the stand that both pieces of literature were in some state of being created at or about the same time. Further more this paper is going to give just as much credence to the Mandaean point of view as is always allowed with the Christian viewpoint.

In comparison between the Mandaean texts and Book of Luke we find a number of items that are similar. These are:

“Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.”Luke 1:1-4