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

(8) John is a faithful witness of the excellency of Christ.

(b) That is, He before whom I am sent to prepare him the way: so that these words refer to the time of his calling, and not of his age, for John was six months older than Christ.

(c) This sentence has in it a turning of the reason as we call it, as one would say, a setting of that first which should be last, and that last which should be first: for in plain speech it is this, He that comes after me, is better than I am, for he was before me. We find a similar turning of the reason in Lu 7:47: Many sins are forgiven her, because she loved much, which is this much to say, She loved much, because many sins are forgiven her.

People's New Testament

1:15 John bare witness of him. At the time of Christ's baptism when the Spirit descended. See Joh 1:33.

Wesley's Notes

1:15 John cried - With joy and confidence; This is he of whom I said - John had said this before our Lord's baptism, although he then knew him not in person: he knew him first at his baptism, and afterward cried, This is he of whom I said. and c. He is preferred before me - in his office: for he was before me - in his nature.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Joh 1:15. A Saying of the Baptist Confirmatory of This.

15. after me-in official manifestation.

before me-in rank and dignity.

for he was before me-in existence; "His goings forth being from of old, from everlasting" (Mic 5:2). (Anything lower than this His words cannot mean); that is, "My Successor is my Superior, for He was my Predecessor." This enigmatic play upon the different senses of the words "before" and "after" was doubtless employed by the Baptist to arrest attention, and rivet the thought; and the Evangelist introduces it just to clinch his own statements.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:15-18 As to the order of time and entrance on his work, Christ came after John, but in every other way he was before him. The expression clearly shows that Jesus had existence before he appeared on earth as man. All fulness dwells in him, from which alone fallen sinners have, and shall receive, by faith, all that renders them wise, strong, holy, useful, and happy. Our receivings by Christ are all summed up in this one word, grace; we have received even grace, a gift so great, so rich, so invaluable; the good will of God towards us, and the good work of God in us. The law of God is holy, just, and good; and we should make the proper use of it. But we cannot derive from it pardon, righteousness, or strength. It teaches us to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, but it cannot supply the place of that doctrine. As no mercy comes from God to sinners but through Jesus Christ, no man can come to the Father but by him; no man can know God, except as he is made known in the only begotten and beloved Son.