creation. But that is not the "beginning" spoken
of here either. The "beginning" here is the same one which John speaks of
in his letter: "We know him who was from the beginning." He is referring to
the beginning of the church, when the disciples saw Jesus, touched him and
handled him. From the risen life of Jesus flows the new life of the church.
That is what Paul teaches so clearly in 2 Corinthians 5: "If anyone be in
Christ he is a new creation. Old things have passed away, all things have
become new." W