The commentaries of M. John Calvin upon the first Epistle of Saint John, and…The comentaries of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the first Epistle of Sainct Ihon, and…

1 That which was from the beginning. Because it is a broken and confused speech, that the sense may be given more plain, so the words are to be resolved. We declare unto you, the word of life, which from the beginning hath by all means, been truly testified unto us, how life was made manifest in it. Or if you had rather otherwise, Whatsoever we show you of the word of life, it was from the beginning, and it was openly showed to us: because life is made manifest in it. But this member, That which was from the beginning, is undoubtedly referred to the divinity of Christ, for God was not manifested in the flesh from the beginning: but he who always was life, and the eternal word of God, in the fullness of time became man. Again, those things that follow of the beholding and feeling with hands, do more belong to the humane nature. But because two natures make one person, & that one is Christ, who came out from the father, that he might take upon him our flesh, the Apostle doth worthily show forth in common together, that he hath ben always invisible and afterwards ⟨p. 3⟩seen. Whereby is refelled the rotten cavil of Seruetus, that there is one nature and being of the deity with the flesh and moreover that the word is transformed into flesh: because that living word was seen in the flesh. Let us remember therefore, that this doctrine of the Gospel is avouched, that he who in the flesh did truly prove himself to be the son of God, & was acknowledged for the son of God, was always the invisible word of God. And yet he doeth not here assign the beginning of the world, but ascendeth higher.

1 That which was from the beginning. Because it is a broken and confused speach, that the sence maye bée giuen more plaine, so the words are to be resolued. We declare vnto you, the word of life, which from the beginning hath by all meanes, bene truly testified vnto vs, how life was made manifest in it. Or if you had rather otherwise, Whatsoeuer we shew you of the word of life, it was from the beginning, and it was openly shewed to vs: because life is made manifest in it. But this member, That which was from the beginning, is vndoubtedly referred to the diuinitie of Christ, for God was not manifested in the flesh from the beginning: but hée who alwayes was life, and the eternal word of God, in the fulnesse of time became man. Againe, those things that follow of the beholding and féeling with handes, doe more béelong to the humane nature. But because two natures make one persō, & that one is Christ, who came out from the father, that he might take vppon him our flesh, the Apostle doth worthely shewe foorth in common together, that he hath ben alwayes inuisible and afterwards