Views on the “Pre-Existence” of Jesus Christ

This article examines a commonly-held religious view which teaches the literal and personal pre-existence of Christ. It looks at oft-quoted passages, and some less quoted, trying to relate them to the rest of Scripture teaching, and showing that their apparent support for a personal pre-existence is insubstantial. Although a single article of this nature cannot cover all or even most of the detailed questions which can arise, I hope it will provide some help when readers are in discussion with friends.1

Amongst those who believe in the literal and personal existence of Christ before his birth by Mary, there are a variety of conflicting views about the details of his origin. These notes endeavour to cover a wide spectrum. Because of this some of the comments may be relevant to one view and not to another.

The basis of this synopsis will be to accept what the Scriptures say as the true revelation of God, harmonious in its several parts. Man’s place is to accept in humble submission what God has said through His messengers, not to impose on the Scriptures the dogma of human thoughts as was done in the third and fourth centuries, providing a faulty legacy for all generations since. Nor is it for man to decide for himself what can be believed in our modern age. Our duty is to learn. If the Scriptures, taken as they stand, make for difficulty of understanding, let us persevere in looking for a Divine interpretation or explanation in the Scripture itself, and not assume an error or inconsistency.

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Author: Stephen Green

Keywords: Pre existence, Pre existence of Jesus, Pre existence of Christ, Christ's pre-existence, Jesus' pre-existence, Jesus pre-existed, Christ pre-existed, Jesus is God, Trinity, Trinitarian, Jesus was God, God the Son, Incarnation, God incarnate, God in the flesh, Form of God, Jesus became a man, god man, God became a man, incarnate, eternal son, Before Abraham, Before Abraham I am

Bible reference(s): John 1:1-4, John 1:10-14, John 3:13, John 1:18, John 6:33, John 6:38, John 6:51, John 6:58, John 6:62, John 8:14, John 8:23, John 8:56-59, John 17:5, John 17:24, Col 1:16-17, Heb 1:2-3, Heb 1:10, Heb 7:3, 1 Corinthians 10:4, Philippians 2:6-7, Heb 1:2, Rev 1:17, Rev 2:8

Source: “Views on the “Pre-Existence” of Jesus Christ,” The Testimony, Vol. 56 No. 661, February 1986, pp. 33-8.

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