Why are Christians so quick to downplay the importance of Elijah?

Question

You will notice that Christians hardly ever want to mention Elijah. They specifically refuse the notion that Jesus and Elijah were one and the same. It is almost as though they are embarrassed about Elijah or do not want people to notice his teachings.

Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe [a] in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word."
2 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah: 3 "Leave here, turn eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan. 4 You will drink from the brook, and I have ordered the ravens to feed you there."

5 So he did what the LORD had told him. He went to the Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan, and stayed there. 6 The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook.

The Widow at Zarephath
7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the l

land. 8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" 11 As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
12 "As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die."

13 Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and

the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.' "

15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.

17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. 18 She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"

19 "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. 20 Then he cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?" 21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this boy's life re

Answer 1

Wow, ok. I think it's a good question, but I disagree with your interpretation that Jesus and Elijah were one and the same.

Elijah represents the Ultimate Prophet, just as Moses represents the Lawgiver. That's the symbolic significance in Matthew's gospel when you see Jesus appearing in white with Moses and Elijah. Jesus represents the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets; or, the work begun by Moses and Elijah reaches its conclusion in Jesus. So you could say that Jesus represents a "type" of Elijah (in philosophical terms) just as he represents a "type" of Moses. But they are not the same.

Still, if people downplay Elijah's importance it's just because they haven't really studied the matter.

Answer 2

Yes, I have heard from Jews more than once that Elijah the prophet was God in human form. His name means Godform. I also read it by a priest of Jewish birth and upbringing who became Catholic. I heard it from someone whose family language was Lebanese and he said it was similar to Aramaic. He said Jesus used speech idioms like most people of the Middle East. I believe there is a quote by Jesus that he was more than Elijah. It use to be in older versions, he was greater than Elijah which scandalized Jews. But he used a different word in comparing himself to Moses than he did to Elijah. The word meant in Aramaic, yes, I am but I am something else besides. The priest who had been Jewish said Elijah came back, born of a woman, and took on human flesh. that was the something else besides.
My grandfather was a Jew and my mother and aunts said he always set a place at the table for Elijah. At passover, Jews are awaiting Elijah's return.

Jews are awaiting His return and we are awaiting his return again.

Funny thing the first time I heard this was back in the early 50s. There was a Jewish business man who was a faithful member of the temple but he also
believed Jesus was the Messiah.

Answer 3

Matthew 11:13-14 for all the prophets and the law till John did prophesy, 14and if ye are willing to receive it , he is Elijah who was about to come; (YLT)

Matthew 17:10-13 10And his disciples questioned him, saying, `Why then do the scribes say that Elijah it behoveth to come first?' 11And Jesus answering said to them, `Elijah doth indeed come first, and shall restore all things, 12and I say to you--Elijah did already come, and they did not know him, but did with him whatever they would, so also the Son of Man is about to suffer by them.' 13Then understood the disciples that concerning John the Baptist he spake to them.
(YLT)

Answer 4

I still don't see how you equate Elijah as being Christ. And john the baptist was not Elijah either. Scripture reads that John the baptist came in the "spirit" of Elijah.

Answer 5

You are mistaken. Elijah was a man of God, highly respected by my religion and his importance is probably yet to become fully apparent.

Answer 6

Straw man.

Answer 7

Just from these answers I guess you're onto something here.

Answer 8

they seem to be very similiar to me. thank you now i shall read up on elijah, john the baptist also on christ! thank you!

Answer 9

Christ is in all. In some people you must look harder than in others.

Answer 10

john the baptist was the re-incarnation of elijah, not jesus. or don't you know what jesus said of john?