The Age of Reason · Character
John the Baptist
Biblical prophet who baptized Jesus, referenced in gospels.
minor
Also known as John
First appearance: part i viii of the new testament
John the Baptist's tie to Jesus Christ is one of the pressures that moves The Age of Reason—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.
Mentioned as the supposed forerunner of Jesus, but Paine disputes this identification.
Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.
With Jesus Christ (family): John the Baptist is Jesus's cousin and forerunner who baptizes him and heralds his ministry. With Matthew (professional): John the Baptist is a prophetic figure whose ministry precedes and…
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The fuller portrait of John the Baptist sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.
See John the Baptist in part i viii of the new testamentCharacter Web
27 connectionsA slice of how John the Baptist sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Family
- Other
Character groups
- Gospel figures and revolutionaries
- Protagonist
- Paine's publishers and allies
- Diverse historical and biblical figures
+22 more in the full Character Web
Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
The emotional and psychological peak occurs as the narrator directly juxtaposes Mark’s doctrine of salvation t…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- Jesus Christ
family · positive
John the Baptist is Jesus's cousin and forerunner who baptizes him and heralds his… How this plays out →
- Matthew
professional · positive
- Thomas Paine
rivalry · negative
- Jesus Christ
family · positive
John the Baptist is Jesus's cousin and forerunner who baptizes him and heralds his… How this plays out →
Relationship notes
How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.
See John the Baptist in part i viii of the new testamentIn the story
John the Baptist appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
Spoil-light check-ins for John the Baptist unlock in the free preview.
See John the Baptist in part i viii of the new testament