By Water & Blood

Panarion 51, Chapter 18: John’s Gospel omits what Matthew covered

But the Gospel that goes under the name of John, they say, lies; for after saying that the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us, and a few other things, it immediately says that there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee.

And those who drag folly upon themselves do not remember that John, after saying that the Word has become flesh and tabernacled among us—that is, has become human—also himself says that he came to John the Baptist at the Jordan and was baptized by him;

for John himself bears witness, saying that the Baptist John said, “This is he about whom I said to you,” and again that “I have seen the Holy Spirit descending in the form of a dove and remaining upon him,” and “This is he who takes away the sin of the world.”

You see that he sets nothing forth by forgetfulness; rather John left aside the things treated by Matthew. For there was no longer need of those things, but of the perfect expression for the refutation of those who suppose that from Mary onward he is called Christ and Son of God, and that earlier he was a bare man, and by advancement received the title of Son of God.

Therefore he takes care of the necessary things (all things being great and necessary, but more especially the heavenly ones), making the narrative of the economy from above.

And they say that the Gospel according to John is unordered, since it did not say these things—I mean the things about the temptation of the forty days—and they do not count it worthy to receive, having gone astray in everything and being blind in mind.