John Calvin Commentary John 1:6

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

There was a man. The Evangelist now begins to speak about the manner in which the Son of God was manifested in the flesh; and so that no one may doubt that Christ is the eternal Son of God, he relates that Christ was announced by John the Baptist, as His herald. For not only did Christ show Himself to be seen by men, but He also chose to be made known by the testimony and doctrine of John; or rather, God the Father sent this witness before His Christ, so that they might more willingly receive the salvation offered by Him.

But it might at first appear ridiculous that Christ should receive testimony from another, as if He needed it; while, on the contrary, He declares that He does not seek testimony from man (John 5:34). The answer is easy and obvious: this witness was appointed, not for the sake of Christ, but for our sake.

If it is objected that the testimony of man is too weak to prove that Christ is the Son of God, it is also easy to reply that the Baptist is not adduced as a private witness, but as one who, having received authority from God, bore the character more of an angel than of a man.

Accordingly, he receives commendation not for his own virtues, but for this single circumstance: that he was the ambassador of God. Nor does this conflict with the fact that the preaching of the gospel was committed to Christ, so that He might be a witness to Himself; for the purpose of John's preaching was that people might pay attention to the doctrine and miracles of Christ.

Sent by God. The Evangelist does not say this for the purpose of confirming the baptism of John, but only mentions it in passing. This circumstance is not sufficient to produce certainty, since many run on their own initiative and boast that God has sent them. However, the Evangelist, intending later to speak more fully about this witness, considered it enough for now to say in a single word that John did not come except by the command of God. We shall later see how John himself affirms that God is the Author of his ministry.

We must now recall—as I previously noted—that what is asserted about John is required of all teachers of the Church: they must be called by God, so that the authority of teaching may not be founded on anyone else, but on God alone.

Whose name was John. The Evangelist states the name, not only for the purpose of pointing out the man, but also because it was given to him in keeping with who he truly was. There is no room to doubt that the Lord was referring to the office to which He appointed John when He commanded by the angel that John should be so called, so that by means of it all might recognize him as the herald of divine grace.

For though the name יהוחנן (Jehohannan) can be taken in a passive sense, and thus refer to the person, denoting that John was acceptable to God, yet, for my part, I willingly extend its meaning to the benefit that others were to derive from him.

He came for a testimony. The purpose of his calling is briefly noted; it was that he might prepare a Church for Christ, since, by inviting all to Christ, he shows plainly enough that he did not come on his own account.

He was not that light. John was so far from needing commendation that the Evangelist gives this warning, lest John's excessive brightness might obscure the glory of Christ. For there were some who gazed so eagerly upon him that they neglected Christ—just as if a person, enraptured with watching the dawn, would not deign to turn his eyes towards the sun.

We shall soon see in what sense the Evangelist uses the word light. All the godly, indeed, are light in the Lord (Ephesians 5:8), because, as a result of being enlightened by His Spirit, they not only see for themselves, but also direct others by their example to the way of salvation.

The apostles are also distinctively called light (Matthew 5:14), because they go before, holding out the torch of the Gospel, to dispel the darkness of the world.

But here the Evangelist speaks of Him who is the only and eternal source of illumination, as he will soon show more clearly.