Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Jesus Existed Before the Creation of the World: A Theological Exposition

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
Monday, August 17, 2015

Jesus Existed Before the Creation of the World: A Theological Exposition

Abstract

This study presents a Christological exposition of the eternal pre-existence of Jesus Christ. Drawing from key New Testament texts, including John 8:58, John 17:5, Colossians 1:16–17, and John 1:3, the article affirms that Jesus’ existence precedes creation itself, thereby substantiating His divine nature. This theological truth challenges Islamic and other humanistic claims that reduce Jesus to a mere prophet or moral teacher. The analysis demonstrates, through both scriptural and logical reasoning, that Jesus Christ is co-eternal with God the Father, and thus, fully divine.

1. Introduction

One of the profound declarations of Jesus Christ recorded in the Gospel of John challenges human understanding of time, existence, and divinity. In John 8:58, Jesus proclaims:

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

This statement stands as one of the most explicit affirmations of Christ’s eternal nature and divine identity. It implies that Jesus’ existence transcends human temporality, affirming His pre-incarnate being before Abraham and, as further Scripture attests, even before the creation of the world. Such claims are unique to Jesus; no prophet or religious leader—whether from Judaism, Islam, or any other tradition—has ever claimed pre-existence prior to creation itself.

2. Jesus’ Declaration of Pre-Existence

The expression “I am” (Greek: ἐγώ εἰμι, egō eimi) in John 8:58 is not a mere grammatical assertion but a theological one. It directly echoes the divine self-identification in Exodus 3:14, where God revealed Himself to Moses saying, “I AM WHO I AM.” This linguistic and theological connection implies that Jesus identified Himself with Yahweh, the self-existent God of Israel.

By claiming existence “before Abraham,” Jesus not only placed Himself above one of the patriarchs revered by both Jews and Muslims but also affirmed His eternal continuity. The Jewish audience immediately recognized the divine implications of this claim, as evidenced by their attempt to stone Him for blasphemy (John 8:59).

3. Jesus’ Glory Before Creation

Jesus further substantiates His pre-existence in His prayer recorded in John 17:5:

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

Here, Jesus speaks of a shared glory with the Father prior to the creation of the cosmos. This pre-creation relationship affirms the eternal fellowship between the Father and the Son. It also reveals that Jesus’ divine identity was not conferred upon Him at birth or baptism, as some heresies (e.g., Adoptionism) have proposed, but is intrinsic to His nature.

4. Christ’s Role in Creation

The Apostle Paul reinforces this divine pre-existence in 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.”

Similarly, John 1:3 declares:

“All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.”

Both passages attribute the act of creation directly to Christ, identifying Him as the divine agent through whom all existence came into being. Therefore, the New Testament presents Jesus not as a created being but as the Creator Himself. This identification aligns with the Old Testament revelation of God as the sole Creator (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 44:24), indicating that Jesus shares the same divine essence.

5. Theological Implications

From these scriptural evidences, several theological conclusions can be drawn:

Jesus’ Eternity: Christ’s existence before creation affirms His eternal nature, distinguishing Him from all created beings.
Jesus as Co-Creator: Creation itself bears witness to Christ’s divine authority and power.
Jesus’ Unity with the Father: His request for restored glory (John 17:5) underscores the ontological unity of the Godhead.
Refutation of Islamic Christology: The Qur’an acknowledges that only God existed before creation (Surah Al-Hadid 57:3). Since Jesus affirms pre-existence before creation, this logically places Him in the divine category, contradicting the Islamic claim that He was merely a prophet.

Thus, the pre-existence of Christ is not a peripheral doctrine but central to Christian theology, confirming that Jesus is God manifested in the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16).

6. Conclusion

In conclusion, the words of Jesus, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58), and His prayer for restored glory (John 17:5) provide irrefutable evidence of His divine pre-existence. The testimony of Colossians 1:16–17 and John 1:3 further cements His identity as the Creator and sustainer of all things. Therefore, Jesus Christ is not a mere prophet or moral teacher but the eternal Word (Logos), co-existent and co-equal with God the Father.

Indeed, Jesus lived before the world was created—because He is God.

References

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV).
The Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Hadid 57:3.
Augustine of Hippo. On the Trinity. Translated by Edmund Hill. New York: New City Press, 1991.
Athanasius. On the Incarnation. St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1993.
Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Zondervan, 2020.
Erickson, Millard J. Christian Theology, 3rd ed. Baker Academic, 2013.
Shimba, Maxwell. Christology and the Divinity of Jesus Christ. Shimba Theological Publications, 2024.

Wednesday, December 3, 2025