He was, and all that He will be—and comprises in Him the birth and end of time. Were His existence measured by human epochs, you might say of Him at some bygone period, “He was”—but the apostle, glancing at His immutability of nature, simply says, “He is.” Œcumenius rightly remarks, that the apostle writes not ἐγένετο πρὸ πάντων, ἀλλʼ ἔστι πρὸ πάντων. Καὶ τὰ πάντα ἐν αὐτῷ συνέστηκε—“And all things in Him are upheld.” Not only is He the creator, but He is also preserver. Heb. 1:3.