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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comVincent Word Studies - John 1:15 - 1:15
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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
As Joh 1:14 is parallel to Joh 1:1-5, so this verse is parallel to Joh 1:6-8, but with an advance of thought. Joh 1:6-8 set forth the Baptist's witness to the Word as the general light of men. This verse gives the Baptist's witness to the personal Word become flesh.
Bare witness (μαÏÏ„Ï…Ïεῖ)
Present tense. Rev., correctly, beareth witness. The present tense describes the witness of the Baptist as abiding. The fact of the Word's becoming flesh is permanently by his testimony.
Cried (κεÌκÏαγεν)
See on Mar 5:5; see on Mar 9:24; see on Luk 18:39. The verb denotes an inarticulate utterance as distinguished from words. When used is connection with articulate speech, it is joined with λεÌγειν or εἰπεῖν, to say, as Luk 7:28, cried, saying. Compare Luk 7:37; Luk 12:44. The crying corresponds with the Baptist's description of himself as a voice (φωνηÌ, sound or tone), Mar 1:3; Luk 3:4; Joh 1:23. The verb is in the perfect tense, but with the usual classical sense of the present.
Was He (ἦν)
The imperfect tense, pointing back to a testimony historically past.
After me (ὀπιÌσω μου)
Literally, behind me: in His human manifestation.
Is preferred before me (ἐÌμπÏοσθεÌν μου γεÌγονεν)
Literally, “is become,†so Rev., “or is here (compare Joh 6:25) before me.†Before is used of time, not of dignity or rank. The expression is enigmatical in form: “my successor is my predecessor.†The idea of the superior dignity of Christ is not a necessary inference from His coming after John, as, on that interpretation, the words would imply. On the contrary, the herald who precedes is inferior in dignity to the Prince whom he announces.
For (ὁÌτι)
Or because. The reason for the preceding statement: the key to the enigma.
He was before me (Ï€ÏῶτοÌÏ‚ μου ἦν)
Literally, first in regard of me (Rev., in margin). The reference to dignity would require ἐστιÌν, is (see Mat 3:11, “is mightierâ€). A similar expression occurs in Joh 15:18 : the world hated me before (it hated) you (Ï€Ïῶτον ὑμῶν). The reference is to the pre-existence of Christ. When speaking of Christ's historic manifestation, is become before me, the Baptist says γεÌγονεν. When speaking of Christ's eternal being, He was before me, he uses ἦν. The meaning is, then, that Christ, in His human manifestation, appeared after John, but, as the Eternal Word, preceded him, because He existed before him. Compare Joh 8:58.