Church Fathers 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)

Alcuin of York: He had said before that there was a man sent to bear witness; now he specifically gives the forerunner’s own testimony, which plainly declared the excellence of His Human Nature and the Eternity of His Godhead. John bore witness of Him.

St. John Chrysostom: Or he introduces this as if to say: Do not suppose that we bear witness to this out of gratitude because we were with Him for a long time and ate at His table. For John, who had never seen Him before nor stayed with Him, bore witness to Him.

The Evangelist repeatedly refers to John’s testimony because he was so greatly admired by the Jews. While other Evangelists refer to the ancient prophets, saying, "This was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet," this Evangelist introduces a more exalted and recent witness. He does not intend to have the servant vouch for the Master, but only to accommodate the weakness of his hearers.

For just as Christ would not have been so readily received if He had not taken upon Himself the form of a servant, so also there would not have been many Jews embracing the word of Christ if their attention had not first been captured by the voice of a fellow servant.

The text continues, And cried; that is, he preached with openness, freedom, and without reservation. He did not, however, begin by asserting that this man was the natural, only-begotten Son of God. Instead, he cried out, saying, This was He of whom I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.

Just as birds do not teach their young to fly all at once, but first draw them out of the nest and then test them with quicker movements, so John did not immediately lead the Jews to lofty truths. He began with lesser steps, saying that Christ was better than he was—which, in the meantime, was a significant step forward.

Observe how prudently he introduces his testimony. He not only points to Christ when He appears but also preaches about Him beforehand, saying, This is He of whom I spoke. This would prepare people’s minds for Christ’s coming, so that when He did arrive, the humility of His appearance would be no obstacle to His being received. For Christ adopted such a humble and common appearance that if people had seen Him without first hearing John’s testimony to His greatness, none of the things said about Him would have had any effect.

Theophylact of Ohrid: He said, Who comes after me, that is, concerning the time of His birth. John was six months older than Christ according to His humanity.

St. John Chrysostom: Or, this does not refer to the birth from Mary, since Christ had already been born when John said this, but to His coming for the work of preaching. He then said, is made before me, meaning He is more illustrious and more honorable. It is as if he said: Do not suppose that I am greater than Him just because I came to preach first.

Theophylact of Ohrid: The Arians infer from this phrase that the Son of God is not begotten of the Father, but was made like any other creature.

St. Augustine of Hippo: It does not mean that He was made before I was made, but that He is preferred to me.

St. John Chrysostom: If the words is made before me referred to His coming into being, it would have been superfluous to add, for He was before me. For who would be so foolish as not to know that if He was made before him, He was before him? It would have been more correct to say that He was before me because He was made before me. The expression is made before me must therefore be taken in the sense of honor. John simply speaks of what was to take place as if it had already happened, following the style of the ancient prophets, who often speak of the future as the past.