: With the wisdom of an enlightened fisherman (CHRYSOSTOM), John brings us the firstfruits of the gospel (ORIGEN). He begins his gospel with the eternal generation of the Son (CHRYSOSTOM, AUGUSTINE), leaving his human birth from Mary to be understood in the context of this first birth (HILARY). He speaks of the Son as the Word “in the beginning,” which, by its very definition, means there can be nothing prior (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA).
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