Basil
also refers to this passage in the treatise, C.
Eunomium i. 20: “Since the Son’s origin
(ἀρχή) is from (ἀπό) the Father, in this respect the Father
is greater, as cause and origin (ὡς
αἴτιος
καὶ ἀρχή).
Whence also the Lord said thus my Father is greater than I,
clearly inasmuch as He is Father (καθὸ
πατήρ). Yea; what else does
the word Father signify unless the being cause and origin of that
which is begotten by Him?” And in iii. 1:
“The Son is second in order (τάξει) to the Father, because
He is from Him (ἀπό) and in dignity (ἀξιώματι)
because the Father is the origin and cause of His
being.” Quoted by Bp. Westcott in his St. John
in the additional notes on xiv. 16, 28, pp. 211
seqq., where also will be found quotations from other
Fathers on this passage.