The Mysteries of John the Baptist: His Legacy in Gnosticism, Paganism, and Freemasonry, Tobias Churton. Inner Traditions, Rochester, VT, 2012.273 pages. $19.95
review by J.S. Kupperman

Tobias Churton’s Mysteries of John the Baptist presents the reader with a possible historical look into the life, ministry, and death of John the Baptist. I say “possible” because there is a great deal of supposition from Churton present. Furthermore, Churton is entirely honest about this, and explains its necessity: history knows almost nothing about John’s life. Because of this, not only must we delve into what little the Bible says about John, we must also look at the historical context surrounding the events of his life. This context is largely invisible in the Gospel narratives, so other resources must be drawn upon. Through all this a sort of picture of John can be developed, though it is impossible to know for certain how accurate such a picture might be.

The Mysteries of John the Baptist attempts four projects: to discuss the lost and possibly purposefully hidden history of John, to explain John’s relationship to pre-Christian thought as it is brought into Christianity, to connect John to Gnostic beliefs about him, and to demonstrate John’s important to Freemasonry. Of these, Churton accomplishes three of these in a somewhat haphazard manner. The sections relating to paganism, Gnosticism and Freemasonry are underdeveloped. Each consists of a single chapter that tells us little about John himself. In the cases of paganism and Gnosticism, there is little connection. Churton brings up John Barleycorn, which has pagan roots but is a Christian phenomenon, and the Mandeans, but not Christian Gnosticism. These chapters could be edited out without harming the overall value of the book

Churton’s exploration of John’s history is so outstanding it easily makes up for the other areas’ lacking. By examining the different sources and biases found in the Gospels, contemporary Jewish understandings of baptism, and the historical context surrounding Johns life and death, Churton paints a fascinating and potentially plausible picture of the many-faceted life of John the Baptist. Chief amongst Churton’s interpretations is the view of John as possibly having been co-equal with Jesus in a joint ministry until he is edited out of the picture for the purpose of Jesus’ supremacy. An idea of John’s own following and followers is developed, as is a conflict between the importance of John and Paul’s mission to raise Jesus’s status that necessitated the diminution of John and his baptisms.

The situation surrounding John, and Jesus’, death is explored as well. Here Churton examines the roles of Herod Antipas, Herod’s military enemy, and father-in-law, king Aretas of Nabataea, Phasaelis, Herod’s wife, and Paul of Tarsus. A complex image of intrigue, self-preservation, and duplicity is formed. Paul’s role is especially surprising and Churton explains how he might have been involved in not only John’s execution, but also a not implausible role in Jesus’ execution as well.

The question remains as to whether or not Churton paints an accurate picture of the life and death of John the Baptist. Given the amount of evidence available, this question cannot be answered. The picture he presents is plausible, but is also not the only one that may be drawn from the evidence available. Churton does not argue this point, either. He is instead refreshingly honest about his project and the shortcomings inherent to its fulfillment. The Mysteries of John the Baptist takes an historical-critical look at the subject at hand and attempts to move beyond the theology that now overlays the subject. In doing so, Churton provides a valuable and important resource for anyone interested in the study of John the Bapist.