Tractates on the Gospel of John
TRACTATE 2 69 moon, and the stars are in the world, trees, cattle, and men are in the world. He was not in the world in such a way. But how was he? As the master builder who governs what he has made. For he did not make it in the way a craftsman makes a chest. The chest which he makes is external to him; and when it is constructed, it has been situated in another place. And however nearby he is, he who is constructing it sits in another place and is external to that which he is constructing.
(2) But God constructs while infused in the world. He constructs while situated everywhere. He does not withdraw from anywhere; he does not direct the structure which he constructs as someone on the outside. By the presence of his majesty he makes what he makes; by his own presence he governs what he has made. He was, then, in the world as the one through whom the world was made. For "the world was made through him, and the world knew him not."
11. What does it mean, "The world was made through him"? The sky, the earth, the sea, and all the things which are in them, are called the world. The second time in another sense the lovers of the world are called the world.
(2) "The world was made through him, and the world knew him not." Did the skies not know their creator? Or did the angels not know their creator, or did the stars not know their creator whom the demons acknowledge? All things everywhere bore witness. But who did not know? Those who are called the world from their love of the world. For in the act of loving we dwell with our heart. But because of their loving they deserved to be called the same [name] as that [place] where they were dwelling. As we say "that house is bad" or "that house is good." We do not blame the walls in that house which we call bad, nor do we praise the walls in that which we call good. Rather by a bad house, [we mean] bad inhabitants, and by a good house, good inhabitants. So, too, [we call those] the world who live in the world by loving it. Who are they? Those who love the world; for they live in the world with their heart. For those who do not love the world abide in the world in the flesh; but in their heart they dwell in heaven, as the