John the Baptist
I think it is worth posting about John the Baptist for a couple of reasons, which I will get on to in a moment. John the Baptist was almost certainly a real person, and we know much about him from Josephus, who discussed how Herod's army was defeated, then goes on to say: [18.116] Now some of the Jews thought that the destruction of Herod's army came from God as a just punishment of what Herod had done against John, who was called the Baptist. [18.117] For Herod had killed this good man, who had commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, righteousness towards one another and piety towards God. For only thus, in John's opinion, would the baptism he administered be acceptable to God, namely, if they used it to obtain not pardon for some sins but rather the cleansing of their bodies, inasmuch as it was taken for granted that their souls had already been purified by justice. [18.118] Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who fea...