John 1:6

"There was a man sent from God, whose name was John."

Commentary

This phrase emphasizes John's divine commission as a messenger, distinguishing him from self-appointed teachers. The passive construction "sent from God" underscores that John's authority and mission originated entirely from God's initiative, not human ambition. The specific naming identifies this as John the Baptist, not the Gospel's author. In the prologue's cosmic context (discussing the eternal Word), this sudden introduction of a historical figure grounds the divine narrative in concrete human history.