one another and engaging in intelligent discourse.”3 From all eternity Jesus was “with the Father [pros ton patera]” (1 John 1:2) in deep, intimate fellowship. Perhaps pros ton theon could best be rendered “face to face.” The Word is a person, not an attribute of God, or an emanation from Him. And He is of the same essence as the Father. Yet in an act of infinite condescension, Jesus left the glory of heaven and the privilege of face-to-face communion with His Father (cf. John 17:5). He willingly