The doctrine of the Trinity naturally involves the idea of the existence of Christ in heaven before his appearance on earth as the babe of Bethlehem to grow up to be the saviour of men.
The idea, however, is usually developed as an independent doctrine in order to lend strength to the argument for Trinitarianism, on the supposition that if the Bible teaches the pre-existence of Christ then that existence must have been sustained by him as a person in the triune Godhead.
If it can be shown that the doctrine of the Trinity is not Scriptural, much of the objective value of the idea of preexistence is lost, and the doctrine depends for its support entirely upon the interpretation given to a number of quotations which are advanced to uphold it.
To continue reading this Bible article, click here.
Author: J. Sutcliffe
Keywords: Trinity, Triunity, Three in one, God the Son, Preexistence, Pre-existence, Christ's preexistence, Christ's pre-existence, Christ preexisted, Christ pre-existed, Jesus preexisted, Jesus' preexistence, Jesus' pre-existence, Jesus pre-existed, Preexistence of Jesus, Preexist, Pre exist, Jesus was the Word, The Word was Jesus, Word was God, Messiah, Deity of Christ, Deity of Jesus, Jesus's preexistence, Jesus preexisted before he was born, Spirit of Messiah, Jewish preexistence, Jewish concept of preexistence, Jewish concept of pre-existence, Jewish understanding of pre-existence, Jewish understanding of preexistence, Jewish understanding of preexistence of Messiah, Messiah's preexistence, Messiah preexisted, Messiah pre-existed, Messiah's pre-existence, Before the foundation of the world, Theophany, Word made flesh, Eternal word, Preexistent word, Eternal son, Pre-incarnate, Preincarnate, Jesus always existed, Christ always existed
Bible reference(s): Psalms 139:16, Jer 1:5, John 1:1-3, John 1:6, John 3:13, John 6:33, John 6:38, John 6:58, John 8:23, John 8:42, John 8:58, John 16:33, John 17:5, John 17:12, John 17:5, John 17:2
Source: “The Pre-existence of Christ,” The Testimony, Vol. 5, No. 49, January 1935, pp. 18-21. Used with permission.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.