How to Intepret John’s Gospel

Origen ca. 185-254

The first-fruits of all the Scriptures are the Gospels, and the first-fruit of the Gospels is the Gospel that John has given us. No one can understand the meaning of this Gospel unless he has rested upon the breast of Jesus and from Jesus has received Mary as his mother. (In Johannis Evangelium, praef. 6; Patrologia Graeca 14:34ab’ Laurentin, 72-73)