Church Fathers Commentary John 1:2

"The same was in the beginning with God." — John 1:2 (ASV)

St. Hilary of Poitiers: Since the evangelist had said, the Word was God, the awe-inspiring and unusual nature of this statement disturbed me, for the prophets had declared that God is one. But to resolve my concerns, the fisherman reveals the divine plan of this great mystery. He refers everything to one God—without dishonor, without erasing the Person, and without reference to time—saying, The same was in the beginning with God. He is with the one unbegotten God, from whom He is, the one only-begotten God.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Again, to prevent any demonic suspicion that the Word, because He was God, might have rebelled against His Father (as some pagans invent in their fables) or, being separate, might have become an adversary to the Father, the evangelist says, The same was in the beginning with God. This is to say that the Word of God never existed apart from God.

St. John Chrysostom: Or, lest upon hearing In the beginning was the Word, you should consider the Word eternal yet still believe the Father's life had some priority, the evangelist introduced the words, The same was in the beginning with God. For God was never solitary, apart from the Son, but always God with God. Furthermore, since he had said, the Word was God, so that no one might think the Son's divinity is inferior, he immediately adds the marks of true divinity. He does this by mentioning His eternity again—The same was in the beginning with God—and by adding His attribute as Creator: All things were made by him.

Origen of Alexandria: Alternatively, the Evangelist, having started with those propositions, reunites them into one by saying, The same was in the beginning with God. In the first of the three propositions, we learned where the Word was: in the beginning. In the second, with whom He was: with God. In the third, who the Word was: God. Then, by using the phrase “the Same,” he sets before us God the Word, of whom he had spoken. He then gathers everything from the first three propositions—In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God—into this single statement: The same was in the beginning with God.

It may be asked, however, why the text does not say, “In the beginning was the Word of God, and the Word of God was with God, and the Word of God was God.” Whoever admits that truth is one must also admit that the demonstration of truth—that is, wisdom—is also one. But if truth is one and wisdom is one, then the Word who declares truth and develops wisdom in those capable of receiving it must also be one. Therefore, it would have been out of place here to say “the Word of God,” as if there were other words besides God’s Word, such as a word of angels or a word of men.

We do not say this to deny that He is the Word of God, but to show the reason for omitting the phrase “of God.” John himself also says in the Apocalypse, And his name is called The Word of God.

Alcuin of York: Why does the evangelist use the verb “was”? So that you might understand that the Word, who is coeternal with God the Father, existed before all time.