Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 1:15

"John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me." — John 1:15 (ASV)

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

He was not before John in the order of human birth, yet he was truly before John, for he had an eternal pre-existence, as he was none other than the uncreated Son of God.