Baptist as abiding. The fact of the Word’s becoming flesh is permanently established by his testimony.
Cried (xéxpayev). See on Mark v.5; ix. 24; Luke xviii. 39. The verb denotes an inarticulate utterance as distinguished from words. When used in connection with articulate speech, it is joined with Néyew or eizreiv, to say, as vii. 28, cried, saying. Compare vii. 37; xii. 44. The crying corresponds with the Baptist’s description of himself as a voice (pwr, sound or tone), Mark i. 3; Luke iii. 4; John i. 23. The verb is in the perfect tense, but with the usual classical sense of the present.
Was He (jv). The imperfect tense, pointing back to a testi- mony historically past.
After me (é7ricw pov). Lit., behind me: in His human mani- festation.
Is preferred before me (éumpoaSév pou yéyovev). Lit., “ zs become,” so Rey., “or is here (compare vi. 25) before me.” Before is used of time, not of dignity or rank. The expression is enigmatical in form: “my successor is my predecessor.” The idea of the superior dignity of Christ is not a necessary inference from His coming after John, as, on that interpretation, the words would imply. On the contrary, the herald who pre- cedes is inferior in dignity to the Prince whom he announces.
For (671). Or because. The reason for the preceding state- ment: the key to the enigma.
He was before me (pards pou jv). Lit., first in regard of me (Rev., in margin). The reference to dignity would re- quire éoriv, is (see Matt. iii. 11, “7s mightier”). A similar ex- pression occurs in xv. 18: the world hated me before (it hated) you (rparov tuev). The reference is to the pre-existence of Christ. When speaking of Christ’s hestorec manifestation, 7s become before me, the Baptist says yéyovev. When speaking of Christ’s eternal being, He was before me, he uses jv. The