4775. 'And he recognized it' means, yes, there was; 'and said, My son's tunic!' means that it was the truth possessed by the Church. This is clear from the meaning of 'tunic' as the truth possessed by the Church, dealt with in 4677. But because this truth was defiled, it was indeed recognized to be that truth, though not like that of the Ancient Church and the Primitive Christian one. This is why the words of explanation here are 'yes, there was'.