Is belief in the pre-existence of Jesus biblical?
The Bible makes it clear that not only did Jesus exist before His incarnation on earth, He is also part of the Trinity and existed as God from all eternity past. Supporting Scriptures appear throughout the New Testament in the Gospels and beyond.One of the most well-known Scriptures supporting the pre-existence of Jesus is John 1:1, 14: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth." This passage states that Jesus was with the Father from the very beginning of human existence and is in fact one with the Father.
There are also several Scriptures that describe Jesus' direct hand in creation. In fact, Jesus was the Person of the Godhead who actually did the work of creation: "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3; see also Colossians 1:15-16 and Hebrews 1:2). He worked in perfect harmony with God the Father, the source of creation (1 Corinthians 8:6), and the Holy Spirit, the power behind creation (Psalm 104:30).
Before Jesus officially began His ministry on earth, His cousin, John the Baptist, announced: "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me'" (John 1:15). Considering the fact that John was six months older than Jesus, John's assertion confirms that Jesus existed before His human birth. In addition, we see that Jesus' power to do miracles during His ministry proclaims His divinity. He not only raised the dead (Luke 7:11-15; Matthew 9:18-25; John 11:1-44) and healed the sick and disabled, but He also had the divine authority to forgive sins (Luke 5:17-25).
Jesus' deity—and therefore pre-existence—is further proven by His miraculous resurrection (John 10:17-18). This act of power authenticated His ministry and means He is the living and divine Savior, who now sits at the right hand of God (Mark 16:19; 1 Peter 3:22).
Is Jesus Christ God?
What is the importance of the supremacy of Christ? What is the supremacy of Christ?
How is Jesus the first-born over Creation? What does it mean for Jesus to be the first-born?
How is Jesus the Son of God?
What are the names of Jesus Christ? What titles are ascribed to Jesus in the Bible?
Truth about Jesus Christ
