Jesus Existed Before the Creation of the World

An Expository and Scholarly Commentary

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba | Shimba Theological Institute

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Introduction

The question of the pre-existence of Jesus Christ lies at the very heart of Christian theology and Christology. It speaks not only to the identity of Jesus, but also to His divinity, the mystery of the Incarnation, and the doctrine of the Trinity. This study explores biblical claims and theological implications of Christ’s existence prior to the creation of the world, engaging critically with the relevant scriptural passages and considering their significance within Christian doctrine.

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1. Jesus’ Assertion: Existence Before Abraham

Biblical Text

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

Commentary

In this profound declaration, Jesus employs the phrase “I AM” (Greek: egō eimi), which directly echoes the divine name revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14 (“I AM WHO I AM”). This claim is unprecedented—no prophet, messenger, or rabbi ever claimed to predate Abraham, the patriarch of the Jewish nation. The context reveals the gravity of Jesus’ words: the Jewish audience understood the implication, as evidenced by their reaction of picking up stones to stone Him for blasphemy (John 8:59).

Theological Implication

Jesus’ self-identification as “I AM” is a direct claim to divinity. The assertion of His existence before Abraham, who lived approximately two millennia prior, underscores the doctrine of Christ’s pre-existence, affirming that He is not merely a man or prophet, but shares in the eternal nature of God.

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2. Jesus’ Prayer: Glorification With the Father Before Creation

Biblical Text

John 17:5:
“And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” (ESV)

Commentary

In the high priestly prayer of John 17, Jesus petitions the Father for a restoration of the glory they shared before the world existed. This statement provides an explicit affirmation of His pre-existence and of a unique relationship with the Father prior to all created reality.

Theological Implication

The phrase “before the world existed” (pro tou ton kosmon einai in Greek) cannot be construed as metaphorical or figurative; it is a straightforward assertion of Christ’s existence before time and space. This further underscores His divinity, equality with the Father, and role within the Godhead (cf. John 1:1-2; Philippians 2:6-7).

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3. The Role of Jesus in Creation

Biblical Texts

• Colossians 1:16-17:

  “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

• John 1:3:

  “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

Commentary

Both Pauline and Johannine theology agree: Jesus is not only pre-existent, but also the very agent of creation. The Greek preposition dia (through) in Colossians 1:16 and John 1:3 establishes Christ as the mediatorial cause of creation—everything exists by, through, and for Him.

Theological Implication

The attribution of creation to Christ, a prerogative traditionally reserved for God alone in Hebrew Scriptures (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 44:24), constitutes compelling evidence for the divinity of Jesus. It further demonstrates that His existence and authority transcend all created things, including time, space, and spiritual hierarchies.

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4. Pre-existence and Islamic Perspective

Interestingly, even in Islamic theology, it is confessed that only God existed before the creation of the world. Yet, Jesus claims to have existed before creation. This creates a theological dissonance if one were to view Jesus as merely a prophet, as Islam asserts (Qur’an, Surah Al-Imran 3:59; An-Nisa 4:171). The biblical testimony, however, unequivocally establishes Jesus’ divine pre-existence.

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5. Synthesis: Jesus is God, the Creator

Scriptural Synthesis

The above passages, taken collectively, reveal a consistent biblical testimony:

• Jesus existed before Abraham (John 8:58)

• Jesus possessed divine glory with the Father before the world began (John 17:5)

• All things were created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16-17; John 1:3)

• He holds all things together and predates all creation (Colossians 1:17)

Theological Conclusion

Therefore, Jesus is not a mere prophet or messenger. According to Scripture, He is God incarnate, the eternal Creator, and the sustainer of all that exists. The claim of pre-existence is unique to Christ and forms a cornerstone of the Christian confession concerning His divinity.

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References

1. The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV).

2. Beale, G.K. & Carson, D.A. (Eds.). (2007). Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Baker Academic.

3. Wright, N.T. (2012). How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels. HarperOne.

4. Hurtado, L. (2005). Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity. Eerdmans.

5. Brown, R.E. (1977). The Birth of the Messiah: A Commentary on the Infancy Narratives in Matthew and Luke. Doubleday.

6. Bruce, F.F. (1981). The Gospel of John: Introduction, Exposition and Notes. Eerdmans.

7. The Qur’an (Sahih International translation), Surah Al-Imran 3:59; An-Nisa 4:171.

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Bibliography

• Barrett, C.K. The Gospel According to St. John. SPCK, 1978.

• Carson, D.A. The Gospel According to John. Eerdmans, 1991.

• Dunn, J.D.G. Christology in the Making: A New Testament Inquiry into the Origins of the Doctrine of the Incarnation. SCM Press, 1980.

• Ladd, G.E. A Theology of the New Testament. Eerdmans, 1993.

• Morris, L. The Gospel According to John. Eerdmans, 1971.

• Wright, N.T. Jesus and the Victory of God. Fortress Press, 1996.

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Conclusion

This scholarly exploration has demonstrated, from multiple New Testament witnesses, that Jesus Christ is eternally pre-existent, the agent of all creation, and fully divine. The New Testament does not present Jesus as merely a remarkable teacher or prophet, but as God Himself, existing with the Father before the foundation of the world—a truth at the center of historic Christian faith.

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In His service,
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

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