1. Is the pre-existence of Christ a Biblical concept?

The word ‘pre-existence’ is a Latin term that literally means ‘to exist before.’ Depending on the context in which the word is used, it refers to something—or someone—that already existed beforehand. For example, in medical contexts, ‘pre-existence’ is used when a condition was already present prior to an accident. And in circles where the idea of reincarnation is embraced, it is believed that every human being ‘pre-existed,’ i.e., had a prior existence (e.g., as an animal) before conception.

When speaking of the pre-existence of Christ from a Biblical perspective, the concept is especially based on statements found in the Gospel of John. For instance, John the Baptist declares in John 1:15:

“…this was he of whom I said, He who after me is coming, has come before me, because he was before me.”

John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus (Luke 1:36), and yet he says: He has come before me and he was before me. That directly points to ‘existing beforehand’ or ‘pre-existence.’ Or consider Colossians 1:16:

“…and himself is before all, and the all things in him have consisted.”

The answer to the above question is therefore: absolutely, ‘pre-existence’ is a Biblical concept!

This is separate from the question of how we are to understand this ‘pre-existence.’ Was Christ’s pre-existence a conscious existence, or an existence in an abstract sense? John 1:15 follows verse 14, where we read: “And the Word (Gr. logos) became flesh.”

Delen: