John 1:15 (WEB)
John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”
Catechism · 1
“Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 1:12-18; 17:3; Rom 8:14-17; 2 Pet 1:3-4.
Fathers and councils · 18
Irenaeus of Lyons
“This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a man who was made before me; because He was prior to me: and of His fulness have all we received.”” — editor's note: John i. 29, John i. 15, 16.
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Athanasius of Alexandria
“Senseless men! if He is simply ‘First-born of the whole creation,’ then He is other than the whole creation; for he says not, ‘He is First-born above the rest of the creatures,’ lest He be reckoned to be as one of the creatures, but it is written, ‘of the whole creation,’ that He may appear other than the creation.” — editor's note: To understand this passage, the Greek idiom must be kept in view. Cf. Milton’s imitation ‘the fairest of her daughters Eve.’ Vid. as regards the very word…
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Ambrose of Milan
“It is Truth, Righteousness, the Power of God: not dumb, for it is the Word; not insensible, for it is Wisdom; not vain and foolish, for it is Power; not soulless, for it is the Life; not dead, for it is the Resurrection.” — editor's note: Christ the Word: S. John i. 1–18. Wisdom: 1 Cor. i. 24, 30. Life and Resurrection: S. John xi. 25.
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Augustine of Hippo
“But from this stock he came by whom it was said, “He who cometh after me is preferred before me.”” — editor's note: John i. 15.
Read the whole comment“The statements made by these three are attested by the evangelist John, when he says: “John bears witness of Him, and cries, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me; for He was before me.”” — editor's note: John i. 15.
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John Chrysostom
“But just as John says, “He that cometh after me, is preferred before me” ( John i. 15, 30 ), that is, higher in honor and esteem; so also here, “being made so much better than the angels”—that is, higher in esteem and better and more…” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“John i. 15” — the author cites it
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“And his namesake exclaimed, “After me cometh one who is preferred before me for He was before me.”” — editor's note: John i. 15
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Tertullian
“…prophecy—so completely failed, after the transfer of the whole Spirit to the Lord, that he presently sent to inquire whether He whom he had himself preached, whom he had pointed out when coming to him, were “HE.”” — editor's note: Matt. iii. 11, 12; John i. 6–36.
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John Cassian
“John also the Lord’s forerunner says: “After me cometh a man who is preferred before me for He was before me.”” — editor's note: S. John i. 15.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
““Him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth.” [John 1:15] Hence the Christians were at first called Nazarenes, at Antioch their name was changed to that of ‘Christians.’” — the author cites it
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Catena Aurea on John
- Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
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…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
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…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
He saith, Who cometh after me, that is, as to the time of His birth. John was six months before Christ, according to His humanity.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Or this does not refer to the birth from Mary; for Christ was born, when this was said by John; but to His coming for the work of preaching. He then saith, is madea before me; that is, is more illustrious, more…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
The Arians infer from this word1, that the Son of God is not begotten of the Father, but made like any other creature.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
It does not mean—He was made before I was made; but He is preferred to me.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
If the words, made before me, referred to His coming into being, it was superfluous to add, For He was before me. For who would be so foolish as not to know, that if He was made before him, He was before him. It…
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Cross-references · 15
Cited together in Catechism §1996.
Cited together in Letters Letter 83.
Cited together in Letters Letter 83.
Cited together in Catechism §1996.
Cited together in Catechism §1996.
Cited together in Catechism §1996.
Cited together in Catechism §1996.
Cited together in Letters Letter 83.
Cited together in Letters Letter 83.
Cited together in Letters Letter 83.
Cited together in Catechism §1996.
Cited together in Catechism §1996.
Cited together in Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 2:21–23 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 2:21–23 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Pseudo-Chrysostom on Matthew 2:21–23 (Catena Aurea).