Connection
The Elijah who was to come
Malachi's last words promise Elijah's return before the great day of the Lord. Jesus told the crowds and His disciples that John the Baptist was that Elijah.
The New Testament explicitly frames this as fulfillment.
Read the earlier witness
5“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” Read the later witness
Why FaithGraph draws this line
John the Baptist explicitly fulfills Malachi 4:5-6.
Jesus says that John is the Elijah who was to come, and after the transfiguration the disciples understand His words about Elijah to mean John.
Evidence
Gabriel had already said John would go before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah.
Other responsible views
- John's own denial. When asked directly, John said he was not Elijah (John 1:21). Most readers hold that he denied being Elijah in person while fulfilling Elijah's role, as Jesus said.
The explanation above is FaithGraph editorial content, not Scripture.
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- Passage
Luke 1:17
Open this Scripture reference and the relationships connected to it.
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Mary visits Elizabeth
Mary hurried to the hill country to her relative Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant with John. At Mary's greeting the child leaped in Elizabeth's womb, Elizabeth blessed Mary and her child, and Mary sang the song of praise known as the Magnificat.
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The birth of John the Baptist
Elizabeth gave birth to a son, and against family expectation both parents insisted his name was John. Zechariah's speech returned and, filled with the Holy Spirit, he prophesied that the child would go before the Lord to prepare His way.
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The ministry of John the Baptist
John came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, calling Israel to repent because the kingdom of heaven was near, and baptizing in the Jordan those who confessed their sins. He dressed like Elijah, warned the religious leaders, pointed to one greater than himself, and was later imprisoned by Herod Antipas for rebuking him.
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The baptism of Jesus
Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River. As He came up from the water the Spirit descended on Him like a dove and a voice from heaven declared Him the beloved Son. This marks the public beginning of His ministry.
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