Life and Conduct of John the Baptist

Standard abbreviation: Life Cond. John Bapt.

Other titles: none

Clavis numbers: ECCA 358

Category: Hagiographa

Compiled by Tony Burke, York University ([email protected]).

Citing this resource (using Chicago Manual of Style): Burke, Tony. “Life and Conduct of John the Baptist.” e-Clavis: Christian Apocrypha. Accessed DAY MONTH YEAR. https://www.nasscal.com/e-clavis-christian-apocrypha/life-and-conduct-of-john-the-baptist/.

Originally posted June 2020. Most recent update April 2025.

1. SUMMARY

Life Cond. John Bapt. has no attribution at the beginning nor end but one version is cast as a reading for John’s feast day 29 August. The text begins with the birth of John in the days of Herod the Great and recounts the annunciation of Gabriel to Zechariah (Luke 1:9–14). Surprisingly, no mention is made of Elizabeth and John’s flight to the holy mountain (from Protevangelium of James 22). All that is said of John’s childhood is that he left his mother at the age of five to withdraw into the desert to Mount Carmel where he is instructed by Gabriel.

The text moves on to John’s baptism career at the Jordan with his two disciples Andrew and Philip, who leave John when he identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God (John 1:35–40). The Holy Spirit comes to John and tells him to watch for Jesus; when he sees a dove flying upon him, he will become known to him as the Son and Word of God. In the meantime, John stands at the Jordan where he hears the land and sea quarrelling with each other over which is more esteemed. First the sea complains that the land is rife with iniquity. It claims that without its waters there would be no life on land. The earth responds that it is greater because paradise is on it and Adam and Eve were made from it, as well as the prophets, patriarchs, saints, and martyrs. On it also are the tombs of saints, the temple of Solomon, and other esteemed places, as well as precious stones and perfumes. On it is where God appeared to Abraham, Moses, and others, and where God will sit in judgment of humans.

The argument finishes when Jesus appears at the Jordan. The sea flees from his presence and Jesus rebukes it, ordering it to go back to its place. Then comes the baptism story from Matthew, followed by a brief mention of the temptation in the desert.

The rest of the text focuses on John’s imprisonment and execution. While in prison for criticizing Herod Antipas’s marriage to Herodias, John is visited by Andrew and Philip, who he sends to Jesus to ask if he is the one that was to come or if they should wait for another (Matt 11:2–6; Luke 7:18–23). Then follows the party for Herod’s birthday, which is expanded with some dramatic embroidery. Herod sends an executioner to John, but when he lunges at John, the sword cuts off his own head. So Herod sends another, who throws himself before John. John utters a speech in which he reveals that after his death, he will go to hell to preach to the dead. Then he allows the executioner to do his job.

After John’s death, the prison is filled with sweet fragrances. The executioner takes the head to Herod and it speaks, saying, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother Philip’s wife” (Mark 6:18; Matt 14:4). Awestruck, Herod glorifies God and gives the head to Herodias’s daughter who passes it on to her mother. Herodias throws it in a dung heap, but an angel takes it to a cave on Mount Carmel; as for John’s body, his apostles take it and bury it in the tomb of his father, where they are joined by Elizabeth and Mary of Bethany.

A few days later God brings Herod and Herodias to Mount Barkan, which splits and seals them up. They will remain in hell until the end of the age. Herodias falls into a frozen pond and when her attendants try to remove her, her head is pulled off.

Named historical figures and characters: Aaron, Abijah (priest), Abraham (patriarch), Adam, Andrew (apostle), Annas (scribe/high priest), Archelaus, Caiaphas, Daniel (prophet), David (king), devil, Elijah (prophet), Elizabeth, Eve, Ezekiel (prophet), Gabriel (angel), Herod Antipas, Herod (the Great), Herodias, Isaac (patriarch), Jechonias (grandfather of John the Baptist), Joseph (patriarch), Lazarus, Mary (of Bethany), Mary (Virgin), Micah (prophet), Moses (patriarch), Naphtali (patriarch), Noah (patriarch), Philip (apostle), Philip (tetrarch), Solomon, Zebulon (patriarch), Zechariah (priest),

Geographical locations: Galilee, hell, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Judea, Mount Barkan, Mount Carmel, Mount Hermon, Oaks of Mamre, paradise, Petra, temple (Jerusalem).

2. RESOURCES

3. BIBLIOGRAPHY

3.1 Manuscripts and Editions

3.1.1 Greek (BHG 838, 838b)

Athens, Ethnikē Bibliothēkē tēs Hellados, gr. 2634, fols. 8^r–10^v (15th cent.) ~ Pinakes

Oxford, Bodleian Library, Selden Supra 9, fols. 50^v–53^v (1340)

Mount Sinai, Monē tēs Hagias Aikaterinēs, gr. 1102, fols. 106^r–109^v, 111^r–111^v, 110^r–110^v, 112^r–114^r (1371)

Paris, Bibliothèque nationale de France, gr. 1190, fols. 199^v–206^r (1568)

Berendts, Alexander. Die handschriftliche Überlieferung der Zacharias- und Johannes-Apokryphen. TU, N. F. 11/3. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs, 1904 (description of the text, pp. 12–13).

Nau, François. “Histoire de saint Jean Baptiste attribuée à saint Marc l’Évangéliste.” PO 4 (1908): 521–41 (description of the text pp. 523–24).

3.2 Modern Translations

3.3 General Bibliography

Berendts, Alexander. Die handschriftliche Überlieferung der Zacharias- und Johannes-Apokryphen. TU, N. F. 11/3. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs, 1904 (pp. 12–13)

Burke, Tony. “The New Testament and Other Early Christian Traditions in Serapion’s Life of John the Baptist.” Pages 281–300 in Christian Apocrypha. Receptions of the New Testament in Ancient Christian Apocrypha. Edited by Jean-Michel Roessli and Tobias Nicklas. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2014.

Hall, Thomas N. “The Reversal of the Jordan in Vercelli Homily 16 and in Old English Literature.” Traditio 45 (1989–1990): 53–86.