Friday, June 13, 2025

THE PRE-EXISTENCE OF JESUS CHRIST: A BIBLICAL AND THEOLOGICAL EXPOSITION

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute

Introduction

The doctrine of the pre-existence of Jesus Christ stands as one of the cornerstone affirmations of classical Christian theology. This doctrine asserts that Jesus existed as a distinct, divine Person before His incarnation in Bethlehem. Far from being a late theological invention, the pre-existence of Christ is rooted in the explicit teachings of Scripture, both in the Old and New Testaments, and has been consistently affirmed by the historic Christian Church. The aim of this article is to present an exhaustive biblical, expository, and theological defense of the pre-existence of Jesus, drawing upon key passages, lexical analysis, and patristic interpretation.

I. The Direct Claims of Jesus: "Before Abraham Was, I AM" (John 8:58)

A. Textual Analysis

John 8:58 (ESV):
Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

Here, Jesus uses the Greek phrase ἐγώ εἰμι (egō eimi), which is directly translated "I AM." This declaration is not merely a statement of longevity but an explicit reference to the Divine Name revealed to Moses in the burning bush.

Exodus 3:14 (LXX):
Ἐγώ εἰμι ὁ ὤν — “I AM the Being” or “I AM WHO I AM.”

Strong’s Concordance numbers for these Greek terms:

ἐγώ (G1473): "I"
εἰμι (G1510): "am, to be, exist"

The identical form is employed by Jesus, signaling a direct identification with the God who appeared to Moses. For the Jewish audience, this was unmistakably a claim to eternal, self-existent deity, as their response in John 8:59 (picking up stones to stone Him) demonstrates—they saw this as blasphemy unless Jesus was, in fact, God.

II. Old Testament Witness to the Pre-Existence of the Messiah

A. The Angel of the LORD

In several Old Testament appearances, the Angel of the LORD speaks as God, receives worship, and exhibits divine authority (Genesis 16:7–13; Exodus 3:2–6; Judges 13:18–22). Many early Church Fathers recognized these Christophanies (pre-incarnate appearances of Christ) as manifestations of the eternal Word.

B. The Son in Psalm 2 and Proverbs 30:4

Psalm 2:7: "You are my Son, today I have begotten you."
Proverbs 30:4: "Who has ascended to heaven and come down?... What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!"

The Hebrew word for "Son" (בֵּן, ben, Strong’s H1121) anticipates an eternal relationship within the Godhead.

III. New Testament Affirmations of Christ’s Pre-Existence

A. The Prologue of John

John 1:1–3
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made."

Word (λόγος, logos, Strong’s G3056): the pre-incarnate Christ.
Was (ἦν, ēn, Strong’s G2258): denotes continuous, timeless existence.

B. Paul’s Christological Hymns

Philippians 2:5–7
"Who, being in very nature God [μορφῇ Θεοῦ, morphē Theou, Strong’s G3444, G2316], did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant..."

"Being" (ὑπάρχων, hyparchōn, Strong’s G5225): existing prior to incarnation.
"Form of God" (morphē Theou): intrinsic, essential nature, not external form only.

Colossians 1:16–17
"For by him all things were created... all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

Paul affirms not only Christ’s agency in creation but His pre-existence as prior to all things (πρὸ πάντων, pro pantōn).

IV. Theological and Patristic Consensus

From the earliest centuries, orthodox Christian theologians and creeds have confessed the pre-existence of the Son:

Nicene Creed (325 AD): “...begotten of the Father before all worlds, Light of Light, very God of very God...”
Athanasius: “There never was a time when He was not.”

V. Expository and Concordance Study: The "I AM" Statements

Throughout John’s Gospel, Jesus frequently uses the "I AM" (egō eimi) formula, further establishing His pre-existent, divine identity:

John 6:35, 8:12, 10:7, 11, 11:25, 14:6, 15:1
Each "I AM" (Strong’s G1473, G1510) echoes the self-disclosure of Yahweh in the Old Testament.

VI. The Uncaused Existence of Christ: Philosophical and Theological Implications

Unlike creatures, whose existence is contingent and caused, God alone exists a se—of Himself and from Himself. Jesus’ self-identification as "I AM" (Exodus 3:14, John 8:58) affirms His aseity (self-existence), eternality, and full deity. In metaphysical terms, He is the uncaused Cause, the One through whom all else came to be.

VII. Conclusion

The pre-existence of Jesus Christ is not a peripheral doctrine but a central affirmation of the Christian faith. Both the Old and New Testaments bear witness that Christ is not a mere creature but the eternal, uncreated Son who entered human history for our salvation. His self-identification as "I AM" places Him squarely within the unique identity of Yahweh, the one true God.

References

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: G1473 (ἐγώ, I), G1510 (εἰμί, am), G2258 (ἦν, was), G3444 (μορφή, form), G2316 (Θεός, God), G3056 (λόγος, Word), G1121 (βιβλίον, book), H1121 (בֵּן, son).
Primary Texts: John 1:1–3; 8:58; 17:5; Exodus 3:13–14; Philippians 2:5–11; Colossians 1:15–20; Hebrews 1:1–3; Proverbs 30:4; Psalm 2.
Patristic Sources: Nicene Creed, Athanasius, Augustine.
Secondary Literature: Richard Bauckham, Jesus and the God of Israel; Larry Hurtado, Lord Jesus Christ; N.T. Wright, Jesus and the Victory of God.

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute
For further theological resources, visit [Shimba Theological Institute].