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JOHN 1:15 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
John 1:14John 1:16
“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.”
John testified concerning him. He cried out, saying, 'This was he of whom I said, He who comes after me has surpassed me, because he was before me' — the Baptist's testimony now clarifies the temporal paradox central to Johannine Christology: Jesus comes after the Baptist historically but precedes him ontologically. "Surpassed" (protos, "became first") suggests that priority belongs to Jesus despite chronological succession. The Baptist's words invert worldly logic: the greater yields to the lesser in time, yet is greater in being.

Church Fathers on John 1:15

He had said before that there was a man sent to bear witness; now he gives definitely 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.

Alcuin · 8th century

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 a long time, and partook of His table; for John who had never seen Him before, nor tarried with Him, bore witness to Him. The Evangelist repeats John’s testimony many times here and there, because he was held in such admiration by the Jews. Other Evangelists refer to the old prophets, and say, This was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by…

Chrysostom · 4th century

He said, Who comes after me, that is, as to the time of His birth. John was six months before Christ, according to His humanity.

Theophylact · 11th century
Read all 7 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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