Christology (Doctrine of Christ): Pre-Existence
1. Biblical Foundations for Christ’s Pre-Existence
The Bible provides a rich testimony that Christ existed before all things.
John’s Gospel
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). The Word does not come into existence but already was.
John the Baptist testified, “He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me” (John 1:30). Though Jesus was born later, John recognized his eternal existence.
Jesus himself declared, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58), identifying with the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14.
Pauline Witness
“Though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped” (Philippians 2:6). Christ’s pre-existent glory is the foundation for his humility in the incarnation.
“By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth… all things were created through him and for him” (Colossians 1:16). Christ is not part of creation but its Maker.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9). His pre-existent richness is contrasted with his voluntary poverty in the incarnation.
Other Testimonies
The author of Hebrews writes, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Revelation identifies Jesus as “the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13).
Together, these passages demonstrate that Christ is eternal, divine, and personally active before creation.
2. Theological Significance of Pre-Existence
The pre-existence of Christ is not a peripheral detail but essential to Christian faith.
Affirms Christ’s Divinity – Only God is eternal. To confess Christ’s pre-existence is to confess his full deity.
Secures the Incarnation – The eternal Son truly became man. Incarnation is not the beginning of Christ’s existence but the beginning of his human life.
Establishes Authority – Christ has authority over creation, redemption, and judgment because he is before all things.
Safeguards Salvation – Only one who is fully God and eternal can save to the uttermost.
If Christ were a created being, salvation would rest on a creature rather than the Creator. Pre-existence anchors redemption in the eternal God.
3. Christ in Creation and Eternity
The pre-existent Christ is revealed as active in creation and sovereign over history.
Role in Creation
“All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made” (John 1:3).
“By him all things were created… and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16–17).
Christ is not only present at creation but the agent through whom all things exist.
Eternal Fellowship
The Son shared eternal fellowship with the Father: “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (John 17:5).
The Spirit also testifies to Christ’s eternal role, since all persons of the Trinity share in divine life.
Lord of Time and History
As “the first and the last” (Revelation 1:17), Christ stands at the beginning and end of history, securing the entire redemptive plan.
This eternal perspective gives meaning to both creation and redemption, tying the beginning and the end of all things to Christ.
4. Misunderstandings of Pre-Existence
Throughout history, alternative views have challenged orthodox Christology.
Ideal Pre-Existence – Some argue Christ existed only as an idea in God’s mind, not as a personal divine being.
Created Spiritual Being – Others suggest Christ was the highest creature, greater than angels but not eternal.
Orthodox Confession – The church has consistently confessed that Christ is fully divine, uncreated, and co-eternal with the Father and Spirit.
The Nicene Creed captures this truth: Christ is “begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.” Anything less diminishes his glory and undermines salvation.
5. Implications for Faith and Worship
The pre-existence of Christ shapes Christian life and worship in profound ways.
Confidence in Salvation: Believers trust not in a finite Savior but in the eternal Son who took on flesh.
Pattern of Humility: “Though he was in the form of God… he humbled himself” (Philippians 2:6–8). Christ’s pre-existent glory makes his humility more astonishing.
Ground of Worship: Because Christ is eternal God, he is worthy of worship alongside the Father and the Spirit. Thomas’s confession still rings true: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).
Hope for the Future: The one who existed before creation will also bring the new creation. Revelation shows the Lamb on the throne at the center of eternal worship.
Thus, the doctrine of Christ’s pre-existence is not only about what came before Bethlehem but also about how believers live, worship, and hope in the eternal Son.
Conclusion: Pre-Existence and the Glory of Christ
Christ’s pre-existence affirms that the child born in Bethlehem was no ordinary man but the eternal Word made flesh. From the beginning, he was with God and was God. He created all things, sustains all things, and entered history to redeem all things.
This truth gives depth to the gospel. The cross is not merely the act of a righteous teacher but the sacrifice of the eternal Son. The resurrection is not merely the triumph of a man but the victory of the Alpha and the Omega. The hope of believers rests in the one who existed before all ages and will reign forever.
To confess the pre-existence of Christ is to confess his eternal glory, his divine authority, and his unshakable promise of salvation.
Bible Verses on Christ’s Pre-Existence
John 1:1 — “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 1:30 — “He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.”
John 8:58 — “Before Abraham was, I am.”
John 17:5 — “Glorify me… with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”
Colossians 1:16 — “By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth.”
Philippians 2:6 — “Though he was in the form of God, he did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.”
2 Corinthians 8:9 — “Though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.”
Hebrews 13:8 — “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Revelation 1:17 — “Fear not, I am the first and the last.”
Revelation 22:13 — “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
