SEV Biblia, Chapter 1:15
¶ Juan dio testimonio de l, y clam diciendo: Este es del que yo decía: El que viene tras de mí, es antes de mí; porque es primero que yo.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - John 1:15
Verse 15. Of him] The glorious personage before mentioned: John the Baptist, whose history was well known to the persons to whom this Gospel came in the beginning, bare witness; and he cried,-being deeply convinced of the importance and truth of the subject, he delivered his testimony with the utmost zeal and earnestness,-saying, This is he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me-for I am no other than the voice of the crier in the wilderness, Isa. xl. 3, the forerunner of the Messiah. Was before me.] Speaking by the prophets, and warning your fathers to repent and return to God, as I now warn you; for he was before me-he was from eternity, and from him I have derived both my being and my ministry.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 15. John bare witness of him , etc.] Which was his office and business, for which purpose he was sent, ( John 1:6-8) and cried ; this agrees with his work and office, according to the prophecy of him in ( Isaiah 40:3) and with the time of his ministry, the year of jubilee; and with the nature of his ministry, which was clear, open, and public; and performed with vigour, and in a powerful manner, with much assurance and certainty, with boldness and intrepidity, and with great zeal and fervency, and in an evangelical way; for it was such a cry as debased the creature, and exalted Christ: this was he, of whom I spake ; when he first entered upon his ministry and baptism, before he saw Christ, or baptized him; (see Matthew 3:11). he that cometh after me ; for Christ came into the world after John; he was born six months after him; he came after him to be baptized by him, and attended on his ministry; and came later into the public ministry than he did; is preferred before me ; by God, the Father, in setting him up as Mediator; constituting him the head of the church; causing a fulness of grace to dwell in him; appointing him the Saviour of his people; and ordaining him judge of quick and dead. And by the prophets, who spake much of him, and sparingly of John; and of him as the Messiah and Saviour, and of John only as his harbinger: and by John himself, who represents him as coming from above, and as above all; and himself as of the earth, earthly: and by all Gospel ministers, and every true believer; and good reason there is for it: for he was before me ; which cannot be meant of honour and dignity; for this is expressed before; and it would be proving one thing by the same: nor of his birth, as man; for John in that sense was before him, being born before him; besides, being born before another, is no proof of superior worth; others were born before John, whom he yet excelled: but of his eternal existence, as the word, and Son of God, who was before John, or any of the prophets; before Abraham, and Noah, and Adam, or any creature whatever: the Arabic and Persic versions read, for he was more ancient than me; being from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 15-18 - As to the order of time and entrance on his work, Christ came afte John, but in every other way he was before him. The expression clearl shows that Jesus had existence before he appeared on earth as man. All fulness dwells in him, from which alone fallen sinners have, and shal receive, by faith, all that renders them wise, strong, holy, useful and happy. Our receivings by Christ are all summed up in this one word grace; we have received "even grace," a gift so great, so rich, s invaluable; the good will of God towards us, and the good work of God in us. The law of God is holy, just, and good; and we should make the proper use of it. But we cannot derive from it pardon, righteousness or strength. It teaches us to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour but it cannot supply the place of that doctrine. As no mercy comes from God to sinners but through Jesus Christ, no man can come to the Fathe but by him; no man can know God, except as he is made known in the onl begotten and beloved Son.
Greek Textus Receptus
ιωαννης 2491 N-NSM μαρτυρει 3140 5719 V-PAI-3S περι 4012 PREP αυτου 846 P-GSM και 2532 CONJ κεκραγεν 2896 5754 V-2RAI-3S λεγων 3004 5723 V-PAP-NSM ουτος 3778 D-NSM ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S ον 3739 R-ASM ειπον 2036 5627 V-2AAI-1S ο 3588 T-NSM οπισω 3694 ADV μου 3450 P-1GS ερχομενος 2064 5740 V-PNP-NSM εμπροσθεν 1715 PREP μου 3450 P-1GS γεγονεν 1096 5754 V-2RAI-3S οτι 3754 CONJ πρωτος 4413 A-NSM μου 3450 P-1GS ην 2258 5713 V-IXI-3S
