St. John proceeds:—
"THE WORD WAS WITH GOD."
In Justin we read:—
"This Offspring, which was truly brought forth from the Father, was with the Father before all the creatures, and the Father communed with Him." (Dial. ch. lxii.)
Again, a little before, in the same chapter:—
"From which we can indisputably learn that God conversed with some
One who was numerically distinct from Himself."
Again:—
"The Word, Who also was with Him." (Apol. ii. ch. vi.)
Again, Trypho says:—
"You maintain Him to be pre-existent God." (Ch. lxxxvii.)