The Pre-Incarnate Christ
The Eternal Word
Christ Before Bethlehem
Description
Before the Word became flesh, He existed eternally as the second person of the Trinity. John's Gospel opens with this staggering truth: 'In the beginning was the Word'—not 'came to be' but 'was,' indicating eternal pre-existence. This Logos was both 'with God' (distinct person) and 'was God' (same essence). All creation came into being through Him; He is the agent of creation, not a creature. The pre-incarnate Christ appeared throughout the Old Testament as the Angel of the LORD, the Commander of the LORD's army, and in various theophanies. Bethlehem was not His beginning but His arrival—the eternal entering time.
Key Verses
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. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
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.
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.