Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 1:6

"There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John." — John 1:6 (ASV)

In vv.6–8 the human agent for introducing the Word to people is presented. As the Word came to bring the heavenly light to humanity, so John came to speak from a human level and to awaken people to their need of God’s revelation. This gospel stresses the function of John the Baptist rather than his origin or character (cf. Lk 1:5-24, 57-80). The author takes for granted that the reader knows the Baptist, and he emphasizes John’s subordinate role (cf. Jn 3:22-30) and the fact that he was “sent”—a word that refers to the authority that commissioned him. John’s function is defined in v.7.