This question is for Bible readers only please. Was Elijah the prophet and John the Baptist the same person?

Question

Read Matthew 17; 10-13 before answering. Any answer would be appreciated as I have struggled with this one.

Answer 1

When John Baptist was asked pointedly "Are you Elijah?" his answer was "No." (John 1:21)
When the angel announced the birth of John to his father he said he (John) will go before Him (Christ) "in the spirit and power of Elijah." (Luke 1:17)
In the passage you cite, Jesus said 2 things
1)"Elijah IS COMING, and will restore all things" -
here He was referring to a prophecy in Malachi 4:5,6 stating Elijah would come "before the great and terrible Day of the Lord", which is still a future event.
2) Jesus said "But I say to you Elijah already came", and the disciples understood He was referring to John the Baptist.
Therefore, we must conclude that John the Baptist, as Elijah, was a forerunner of Christ (Messiah), but in reference to His first Appearing, just as Elijah will be in reference to His second Appearing, and he was Elijah only in spirit; in a figure, as expressed by the angel to Zechariah, John's father.
Many Bible commentators believe that Elijah will be one of the 2 prophets mentioned in Revelation chapter 11.

Answer 2

Yes that's right. In the last chapter of the Old Testament in Malachy is written: Mal 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: Mal 4:6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. And: Mat 17:10 So the disciples asked him, "Why, then, do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" Mat 17:11 He answered them, "Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things. Mat 17:12 But I tell you that Elijah has already come, yet people did not recognize him and treated him just as they pleased. In the same way, the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands." Mat 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he had been speaking to them about John the Baptist. Therefore Lukas talked about the John the Baptist and then about Jesus. But read in John the thing is different: Joh 1:19 This was John's testimony when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" Joh 1:20 He spoke openly and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Christ." Joh 1:21 So they asked him, "Well then, are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" He answered, "No."

Answer 3

The answer is clearly no. Elijah, Elias, and John the Baptist are separate individuals. The verse you cite mentions Elias, which is a title and not necessarily a personal name.

Jesus Christ Himself was called Elias as was John the Baptist and other prophets of God. Yet in the books of Luke 4: 25-26, James 5: 17, and Matthew 17: 1-4, Elias in these instances can only be the ancient prophet Elijah whose ministry is recorded in 1 and 2 Kings.

In short, Elias is a title for a forerunner.

Answer 4

No. They weren't the same people. Some Bibles say the "spirit of Elijah".

Matthew 11:13-15 (NKJV)
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. [14] And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. [15] He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Matthew 17:10-12 (NKJV)
And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" [11] Jesus answered and said to them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. [12] But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands."
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The people had the knowledge of prophesy but the were not seeing things fulfilled right before their eyes.

Jesus called John the Baptist , "Elijah" . He was telling the people that prophecy was being fulfilled. John was the Elijah to come and they did not recognize him.

Mark 9:11-13 (NKJV)
And they asked Him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?" [12] Then He answered and told them, "Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and be treated with contempt? [13] But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him."

Depending on your interpretation of Revelation, it may be Elijah that has come or is to come again in Revelation Rev. 11:6 (NKJV)
These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

This is a very interesting study. I believe that most prophecy has been fulfilled. The next event will be cataclysmic. The return of Jesus Christ and this will be the end. Judgement.

Answer 5

He didn't say Elijah, He said ELIAS. Different names. This is a metaphor, which Christ used a lot. Elias means "forbearer"- someone who will come before. That was John the Baptist.

Answer 6

It's just a comparison, Jesus uses those a lot. John the Baptist was their "elijah". they were not the same person

Answer 7

Yup !! John was the re incarnation of Elijah, ..."if you would believe it"...LOL

And know what ! Billy Graham is Elijah/John returned to preach repentance 'to the world'....And, he retired last year.

So, how does one reconcile..."it is given once for man to die and then judgment"...and ..."I will not strive with man forever, but for 120 years".. God said this in early Genesis.

Why did the early church father's believe in reincarnation and then renounce it???

Why, if everything on this earth is recyclable....can't a human life be? We are narcissistic to believe that it's just the one time around.

I think God does give us as many lives as can be crammed into 120 years; in order to 1. accept Jesus and work for the Kingdom of God (in our own inimitable way) 2. be a child of the evil one and go from bad to worse...(for example, born once into like the U.S. of A. and exposed to Christianity and rejecting it and then born the next time where it will be a lot more difficult to become a Christian, like in 'the untouchable caste in india')...OR, in one of the lifetimes (repent) and be able to demonstrate God's mercy and grace; at the judgment seat.

By the way...the "once to die and then the judgment" MAY mean once to die 'after the 120 years'...You know, the 'grateful that I'm dead' rock and roll band may have been onto a great mystery. That is, until born from above...we THINK we are alive...(there's nothing to compare our subjective perceptions to); and after born from above, the new spirit is TRUE life!!

OK..Thumbs downers...Go for it. And 'thinking people' who want a challenge....Please add to in your own inimitable way.

Maranantha, The Lord is coming and NOT like you think He is.

Answer 8

No....

Elijah was one man....and John was another
I know what the verses say......but Elijah was a different person.

The disciples thought He was speaking of John the baptist....but they were mistaken.

Answer 9

No, John was not Elijah. That would be reincarnation. However this was a fulfillment of scripture

http://www.letusreason.org/NAM2.htm

Answer 10

it was thought by the jewish religious leaders that John was Elijah come back, however John denied this.