John 1:6

The Word revealed to Men and rejected by them

6. There was a man Rather, There arose a man, in contrast to the -was" in John 1:1. The word wasfrom all eternity; John arose, came into existence, in time. Comp. John 10:19. Note once more the noble simplicity of language.

sent from God i.e. a Prophet. Comp. -I will sendmy messenger," Malachi 3:1; -I will sendyou Elijah the Prophet," John 4:5. From the Greek for -send" (apostello) comes our word -Apostle."

whose name was John In the Fourth Gospel John is mentioned 20 times, and is never once distinguished as -the Baptist." The other three Evangelists carefully distinguish the Baptist from the son of Zebedee: to the writer of the Fourth Gospel there is only one John. This in itself is strong incidental evidence that he himself is the other John. See on John 11:16.