Bible Strands
John 1:15
John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — John the Baptist publicly declares the identity of Jesus during his baptismal ministry, immediately following the Gospel writer’s statement that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
The words — The Greek verb μαρτυρεῖ (marturei) means "testifies" or "witnesses," and the pronoun αὐτοῦ (autou) translates literally to "Him," anchoring John’s proclamation directly to the person of Jesus.
The thread — This announcement repeats John’s earlier baptismal warning found in Luke 3:16 and Matthew 3:11, while its assertion of Christ’s preexistence corresponds to Colossians 1:17.
Why it lands — The text states that Jesus surpasses John because He existed before him, requiring readers to acknowledge His eternal priority and supreme authority over all human figures.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Matthew 3:11 I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
- Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
- Luke 3:16 John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
- John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
- John 3:26 So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”
- Matthew 3:13 At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.
- John 1:7 He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
- John 5:33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.
- Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days of eternity.