Vincent Word Studies - John 1:15

Vincent Word Studies - John 1:15 - 1:15

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Vincent 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 (μαρτυρεῖ)

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 (κέκραγεν)

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 λέγειν 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 (φωνή, 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 (ὀπίσω μου)

Literally, behind me: in His human manifestation.

Is preferred before me (ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν)

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 (ὅτι)

Or because. The reason for the preceding statement: the key to the enigma.

He was before me (πρῶτός μου ἦν)

Literally, first in regard of me (Rev., in margin). The reference to dignity would require ἐστίν, is (see Mat 3:11, “is mightier”). A similar expression occurs in Joh 15:18 : the world hated me before (it hated) you (πρῶτον ὑμῶν). The reference is to the pre-existence of Christ. When speaking of Christ's historic manifestation, is become before me, the Baptist says γέγονεν. 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.