Who answered him, saying: John the Baptist; but some Elias, and others as one of the prophets.
οι δε απεκριθησαν ιωαννην τον βαπτιστην και αλλοι ηλιαν αλλοι δε ενα των προφητων
5 Church Fathers comment on this verse
They respond that some believe he is John, while others claim he is Elijah; many held the belief that John had returned from the dead, a notion shared by Herod, who thought that John had been granted the ability to perform miracles post-resurrection, despite the fact that John did not perform any wonders during his earthly ministry.
The disciples noted that some believed Jesus to be John the Baptist risen from the grave, while others thought He might be Elijah or Jeremiah, and still others considered Him to be one of the ancient prophets (Luke 9:8-19). These varying perceptions highlight that although the nature of Jesus was seen as remarkable, it wasn't fully understood for what it truly was. Some believed He was merely a resurrected prophet or one inspired by the Spirit, serving as a precursor to the Messiah rather than being the Messiah Himself. While they remained unclear on the precise origin of the Messiah, they held firm in their belief about His eventual glorious arrival. Such was the reasoning among the people. It is important to note that the anticipation of Elijah's return was affirmed by the prophet Malachi, and many did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah in a way that could distinctly categorize them into separate factions.
The Gospel writers Matthew and Mark both confirm that this significant event occurred in the vicinity of Caesarea Philippi, which was historically known as Gablonitis, located near the springs of the Jordan at the base of Lebanon. Furthermore, Luke recounts that prior to inviting the disciples to make an open and heartfelt declaration, Jesus engaged in prayer. Matthew provides a more detailed account of this than Mark and Luke, particularly highlighting the words of Christ (vv. 17-19), where He acknowledges Peter's profound declaration with promises of reward.
Before urging the disciples to affirm their faith, Jesus first inquires about public opinion: "Whom do men say that I am, the Son of man?" He sought to understand how the people viewed Him, who appeared before them in the humble guise of a servant, identifying as the Son of Man. In reply, the disciples articulated the various views held by the populace regarding Jesus. This exchange revealed that the crowd had not yet formed a clear and definitive opinion about Him; nonetheless, the prevailing opinions were misinformed and diminished His true nature.
Given the prevalence of these erroneous perceptions, it became increasingly vital for Jesus to lead His disciples in articulating a clear and resolute understanding of their faith through a sincere confession. Therefore, He turns the question directly to them: "But whom do you say that I am?"
The disciples conveyed to Jesus that public sentiment regarding Him varied. In Herod Antipas' court, some believed Him to be the resurrected John the Baptist, while others regarded Him as one of the prophets from the Old Testament, such as Elijah, Jeremiah, and others.
The reaction that ensued revealed how unaware the crowd was of His true exalted status and how deeply their focus on the national Jewish concept of the Messiah clouded their understanding. The disciples mentioned that some among the people, perhaps reflecting the anxieties of Herod Antipas, believed that the spirit of John the Baptist resided in Him, attributing His miraculous works to that spirit, while others suggested that He was John himself, risen from the dead and appearing under a different name. Some recognized Him as Elijah, who, like Enoch, had not tasted death but had been taken up to heaven and now returned in a physical form, as prophesied by Malachi, to prepare the way for the Messiah.
Others speculated that He was Jeremiah, tasked with uncovering the ark and sacred artifacts concealed on Mount Nebo, heralding the arrival of the Messiah's kingdom. Alternatively, they thought He might be one of the prophets sent by God from beyond as a forerunner of Christ. The Jewish tradition anticipated the appearance of not only Enoch and Elijah but also Moses and Jeremiah before the Messiah’s arrival, believing that Moses had also been taken to heaven similarly to Elijah. They held that Jeremiah had hidden the ark of the covenant during the Babylonian capture of Jerusalem, which was to be revealed once again prior to the Messiah’s coming. However, none of these views suggested that anyone saw Him as the actual Messiah. The absence of His reliance on power or the establishment of a political movement led to a widespread dismissal of any thought of His Messianic role from nearly everyone’s consciousness.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 18 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS