may well have been an ancient Christian hymn. We know of other hymns extant especially in Paul’s writing, and here, too, there is an artful flowing of language and theology (Phil. 2:5–11, Col. 1:15–20). The themes mentioned in the prologue will be picked up later and given fuller development: the pre-existence of Christ (1:1; 17:5), divine light entering the world (1:4, 9; 8:12; 9:5), the opposition of light and darkness (1:5; 3:19), the visibility of glory (1:14; 12:41), Jesus as the only Son (1:14,
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