In the Homily of Origen extant in the Latin of Rufinus (Migne Pat. Gr. xii. 146) ἀρχή is used of the Divine Word, “In principio.  Quod est omnium principium nisi Dominus noster Christus Iesus?…In hoc ergo principio, hoc est in Verbo suo, Deus cœlum et terram fecit.”  An interpretation of John viii. 25, τὴν ἀρχὴν ὅτι καὶ λαλῶ ὑμιν widely prevalent at all events in the Latin church, was “Initium quod et loquor vobis;” “I am the Beginning, that which I am even saying to you.”  See note to Sp. Comment. on John viii. ad fin.