John 1:15

bare witness Better, bears witness. At the end of a long life this testimony of the Baptist abides still fresh in the heart of the aged Apostle. Three times in 20 verses (15, 27, 30) he records the cry which was such an epoch in his own life. The testimony remains as a memory for him, a truth for all.

and cried Better, and cries. The word indicates strong emotion, characteristic of a prophet. Comp. John 7:28; John 7:37; John 12:44; Isaiah 40:3.

of whom I spake As if his first utterance under the influence of the Spirit had been scarcely intelligible to himself.

He that cometh after, &c. The exact meaning seems to be -He who is coming after me (in His ministry as in His birth) has become superior to me, for He was in existence from all eternity before me." Christ's pre-existence in eternity a great deal more than cancelled John's pre-existence in the world; and as soon as He appeared as a teacher He at once eclipsed His forerunner. But this is not quite certain. The words translated -is preferred before me," or -is become superior to me," literally mean -has come to be before me;" and this may refer to timeand not to dignity. But the perfect tense -has come to be, has become" points to dignity rather than time. Moreover if -has become before me" refers to time, this is almost tautology with -for He was before me," which must refer to time.

he was before me The Greek is peculiar, being the superlative instead of the comparative; not simply - priorto me," but - firstof me." Perhaps it means -before me and first of all."