THE PRE-EXISTENCE OF CHRIST - JESUS EXISTED BEFORE HIS

INCARNATION

The most important teaching of the Bible centers about the Lord
Jesus Christ—who He is and what He does. In studying about Him, it is
necessary to go back beyond the usual beginning of the natural human life.

The Bible is the only authentic source book for a biography of Jesus
Christ. Any material found elsewhere is purely imaginary unless it is based
on the biblical account. The gospels are the record of the life of Christ on
earth: Matthew and Luke begin with His birth in Bethlehem; Mark begins
his account with the start of Jesus' public ministry when He was about thirty
years of age, and the gospel of John emphasizes particularly the fact of the
eternity of Christ, that is, His preexistence.

The term means exactly what it says: pre- (before) exist (to be)—
Christ lived before He lived on earth. We know this because it is stated in the
Bible. Many places in both the Old and New Testaments speak of His
preexistence.

Micah 5:2 tells the place where He would be born and then speaks of
His having been "from of old, from everlasting."

"But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the

thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be
ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."
- Micah 5:2

(Modern versions attack this passage. Look at some examples:)

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.” - NIV

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
 from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days." - ESV

"But you, Bethlehem, David’s country,

the runt of the litter—
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule Israel.
He’ll be no upstart, no pretender.
His family tree is ancient and distinguished." - THE MESSAGE

Isaiah gives his experience when he saw "the Lord sitting upon a
throne, high and lifted up."

"[1] In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon
a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
[2] Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain
he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he
did fly.
[3] And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the
LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
[4] And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and
the house was filled with smoke." - Isaiah 6:1-4

Isaiah lived seven hundred years before Christ was born in

Bethlehem, but John referred to this event and said that Isaiah was speaking
of Christ (John 12:41).

"[39] Therefore they could not believe, because that Esaias said
again,
[40] He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they
should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be
converted, and I should heal them.
[41] These things said Esaias, when he saw his glory, and spake of
him." - John 12:41

John 1:1-2 says positively,

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God. The same was in the beginning with God."

This is a conclusive statement of Christ's preexistence. He was not only

with God, but He was God from before the creation of the world. He is a
member of the Trinity, equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit.

Jesus Himself made the clear claim to His preexistence in His prayer
in John 17:5:
"And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory
which I had with thee before the world was."

He said to the Jewish leaders,

"[57] Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old,
and hast thou seen Abraham?
[58] Jesus said unto them, Verily,verily, I say unto you, Before
Abraham was, I am.
[59] Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself,
and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed
by." - John 8:57-59

Abraham's life is recorded in Genesis 11-25. Historically he lived

about 2000 years before Christ. Yet, in using the particular verb tenses that
He did, Jesus was saying that He had lived before His birth into the world,
since He was before Abraham. The Jews recognized that He was claiming to
be eternal, which was a claim to be God.

In Hebrews 13:8 it says,

"Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

He is eternal. This is the point at which there must be a clear understanding

about the preexistence of Christ. If He is not eternal—that is, if He did not
preexist—then He came into being at a certain fixed time in history. If this
were true. He could not be God, for a god who is not eternal cannot possibly
be God. On the human side, Jesus had a beginning; He was born in
Bethlehem. Isaiah 9:6 says, "Unto us a child is born." On the divine side,
Christ had no beginning; He was the son given (Isaiah 9:6), who existed
from all eternity.
OLD TESTAMENT EVIDENCE
 Scripture shows that Christ's existence was distinct and personal
throughout the Old Testament age. Appearances in the Old Testament, called
theophanies, are evidence that Christ existed prior to His birth in Bethlehem.
A theophany is an appearance of Christ in the form of a man or an angel.

It is safe to assume that every visible manifestation of God in bodily

form in the Old Testament is to be identified with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The principal ones are:

(1) as the "angel of the LORD" to Hagar in Genesis 16:7-13; 21:17-19;

"[7] And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in
the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur.
[8] And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence camest thou? and
whither wilt thou go? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai.
[9] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress,
and submit thyself under her hands.
[10] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed
exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.
[11] And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art with
child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the
LORD hath heard thy affliction.
[12] And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man,
and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all
his brethren.
[13] And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou
God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth
me?" - Genesis 16:7-13

"[17] And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called
Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not;
for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
[18] Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make
him a great nation.
[19] And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she
went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink." - Genesis
21:17-19
 to Abraham in Genesis 22:11-18;

"[11] And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and
said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
[12] And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou
any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast
not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
[13] And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind
him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the
ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
[14] And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it
is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
[15] And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven
the second time,
[16] And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because
thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
[17] That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will
multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon
the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
[18] And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;
because thou hast obeyed my voice." - Genesis 22:11-18

to Jacob in Genesis 32:24-30

"[24] And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him
until the breaking of the day.
[25] And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched
the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as
he wrestled with him.
[26] And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will
not let thee go, except thou bless me.
[27] And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
[28] And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:
for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
[29] And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name.
And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he
blessed him there.
[30] And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen
God face to face, and my life is preserved." - Genesis 32:24-30
 to Joshua in Joshua 5:13-15

"[13] And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted
up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him
with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto
him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
[14] And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I
now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and
said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
[15] And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy
shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And
Joshua did so." - Joshua 5:13-15

to Gideon in Judges 6;

"[11] And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak
which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abi-ezrite: and his son
Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
[12] And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him, and said unto
him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty man of valour.
[13] And Gideon said unto him, Oh my Lord, if the LORD be with us,
why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our
fathers told us of, saying, Did not the LORD bring us up from Egypt? but
now the LORD hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the
Midianites.
[14] And the LORD looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might,
and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent
thee?
[15] And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save
Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my
father's house.
[16] And the LORD said unto him, Surely I will be with thee, and thou
shalt smite the Midianites as one man.
[17] And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight,
then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.
[18] Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring
forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou
come again.
[19] And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened
cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth
in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.
[20] And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the
unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And
he did so.
[21] Then the angel of the LORD put forth the end of the staff that
was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes; and there
rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened
cakes. Then the angel of the LORD departed out of his sight.
[22] And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD,
Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the
LORD face to face.
[23] And the LORD said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou
shalt not die." - Judges 6:11-23

to Samson's parents in Judges 13;

(2) as a man to Abraham in Genesis 18; (when the three men came to
him and then 2 men went to Sodom. The 2 men in the next chapter are called
angels, while the man who talked to Abraham was called the Lord)

to Shadrach, Meshach, Abed-Nego, and Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 3

"[23] And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, fell
down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
[24] Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in
haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellers, Did not we cast three men
bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True,
O king.
[25] He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the
midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the
Son of God." - Daniel 3:23-25

What do the modern versions say in the same verse?

"He said, “Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound
and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods.” - NIV

He answered and said, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the
midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is
like a son of the gods.” - ESV
 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of
the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of
God.” - NKJV (Footnotes: Daniel 3:25 Or a son of the gods)

to Daniel in Daniel 10:4-6

"[4] And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by
the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
[5] Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man
clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
[6] His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance
of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in
colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a
multitude." - Daniel 10:4-6

Now compare this to Revelation 1:12-16

"[12] And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being
turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;
[13] And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son
of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps
with a golden girdle.
[14] His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow;
and his eyes were as a flame of fire;
[15] And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace;
and his voice as the sound of many waters.
[16] And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth
went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth
in his strength." - Revelation 1:12-16

He appears as Melchisedec to Abraham:

He appears in Genesis 14:18

"And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and
he was the priest of the most high God." - Genesis 14:18

Then Psalm 110:4 which is talking about Christ says this:

 "The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever
after the order of Melchizedek."

Then Hebrews 7 explains exactly who He is:

"[1] For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God,
who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed
him;
[2] To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by
interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem,
which is, King of peace;
[3] Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither
beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God;
abideth a priest continually.
[4] Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the
patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.
[5] And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office
of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people
according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the
loins of Abraham:
[6] But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of
Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.
[7] And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.
[8] And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them,
of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.
[9] And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes
in Abraham.
[10] For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met
him.
[11] If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for
under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that
another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called
after the order of Aaron?
[12] For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a
change also of the law.
[13] For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another
tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.
[14] For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe
Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
[15] And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of
Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
[16] Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but
after the power of an endless life.
[17] For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec." - Hebrews 7:1-17

The "angel of the LORD" does not appear in the New Testament, for
He became the incarnate Christ.

NEW TESTAMENT EVIDENCE

There are clear statements that in His preexistence Christ was active.

In creation. John 1:3 says,

"All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that
was made."

Colossians 1:16 and Hebrews 2:10 reveal that everything, including the
unseen principalities and powers as well as the visible universe, were not
only made by Him but for Him.

As controller. Hebrews 1:3 says that it is Christ who is "upholding all things
by the word of his power."

When Christ lived on the earth, He had control over the elements of nature.
He could command a storm to stop (Mark 4:39), walk on water (John 6:19-
20), multiply bread (John 6), and raise the dead (John 11). Since only God
has such power and God—to be God—must be eternal, it follows that Jesus
Christ is God and therefore existed from eternity.

In salvation. Many Scriptures speak of God's purpose to redeem mankind.

They begin with the first general reference in Genesis 3:15 of one who
would come to "bruise" Satan and go on to more specific prophecies, such as
the one in Isaiah 9:6-7, to the coming of Christ in the New Testament. God's
purpose to send a Redeemer was clear through the ages from the creation to
the incarnation. But Ephesians 1:4 adds the further revelation that this
purpose was from "before the foundation of the world"

"[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
[4] According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" -
Ephesians 1:3,4

and that it was "according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in

Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 3:11).

"[9] And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which
from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things
by Jesus Christ:
[10] To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly
places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
[11] According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our
Lord:" - Ephesians 3:9-11

Further, God's grace was "given us in Christ Jesus before the world began"
(2 Timothy 1:9).

"[9] Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to
our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us
in Christ Jesus before the world began," - II Timothy 1:9

Since the divine plan of salvation was settled before the foundation of the
world and was centered in Jesus Christ, we have added proof of His
preexistence.

More proof in the New Testament:

"[1] Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all
our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
[2] And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
[3] And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
[4] And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that
spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." - I Corinthians
10:1-4

"[24] By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the
son of Pharaoh's daughter;
[25] Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
[26] Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in
Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." - Hebrews
11:24-26

Any denial of this truth must be a denial of Scripture as the inerrant Word of
God. This would also be a denial of God who is the author of Scripture. An
acceptance of Jesus Christ must rest upon the basis of His preexistence.

"Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be
honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen." - I Timothy 1:17