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1
The Elijah Paradox
Commentators explain that when John denied being Elijah, he was correcting a popular misunderstanding. The Jews literally expected the prophet Elijah to return from heaven. John truthfully denied being this person. However, as Jesus later clarified, John fulfilled the prophecy by coming 'in the spirit and power of Elijah' as the Messiah's forerunner. He was not Elijah in person, but he was Elijah in purpose.
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John
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Commentaries
16
Albert Barnes
On John 1:21
18th Century
Theologian
Are you Elias? — This is the Greek way of writing Elijah. The Jews expected that Elijah would appear before the Messiah came. See the note…
AT Robertson
On John 1:21
And they asked him (κα ηρωτησαν αυτον). Here the paratactic κα is like the transitional ουν (then).
What then?
Charles Ellicott
On John 1:21
19th Century
Bishop
What then?—This was not "What art thou then?" but rather an expression of surprise at the answer, followed by an impatient move to…
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Charles Spurgeon
On John 1:16–21
19th Century
Preacher
And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesu…
Expositor's Bible Commentary
On John 1:21
The suggestion that John the Baptist might be identified with Elijah reflected the Jewish expectation that the return of Elijah would precede the a…
John Calvin
On John 1:21
16th Century
Theologian
Are you Elijah? Why do they name Elijah rather than Moses? It was because they learned from the prediction of Malachi ([Reference…
John Gill
On John 1:21
17th Century
Pastor
And they asked him, what then? are you Elias ?
&c.] Elijah, the prophet; the Tishbite, as Nonnus in his paraphrase e…
Matthew Henry
On John 1:19–28
17th Century
Minister
John denies being the Christ, who was then expected and waited for. He came in the spirit and power of Elias, but he was not the person of Elias. J…