This "narrative biography" of John the Baptist, drawn primarily from New Testament texts, introduces the reader to the life of John the Baptist in the Gospels and Christian spirituality.
With more verses devoted to him than anyone except Jesus, John the Baptist appears some ninety times in the New Testament. Relying primarily on the canonical New Testament texts (with reference to modern scholarship), the book introduces the general reader, undergraduate, or seminary student to John's life, especially its importance in the ministry of Jesus, the development of the early church, and his enduring spiritual significance. The Baptist as reformer is an important theme of the study.
The book holds a place between popular, short works intended for parish or personal Bible study and technical New Testament works and is appropriate for adult scripture study in a group or personally and for undergraduate courses in scripture.
After nearly thirty years of college and graduate/seminary teaching, Bonnie Thurston resigned an academic chair and professorship to live quietly in her home state of West Virginia. She now primarily writes gives retreats to parishes and religious communities. She has authored or edited twenty-four theological books and eight collections of poetry.
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