· Christology ·

Lecture Thirty Three:  The Divinity of Christ I

Preexistence and Eternality

TH330 Systematic Theology I · Moody Bible Institute · Dr. Richard M. Weber

I. Introduction

A. Christology = The Doctrine of Christ

B. Contents of Christology

1. The Person of Christ

2. The Work of Christ

C. Two Approaches to Christology

1. “Christology From Above”

Christ came from heaven to earth

2. “Christology From Below”

beginning with the data that we have

D. The Importance of Christology

“The doctrine of the person of Christ is crucial to the Christian faith.  It is basic to soteriology, for if our Lord was not what He claimed to be, then His atonement was a deficient, not sufficient, payment for sin.” (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology)

E. Definition of “Preincarnate”

“before in the flesh”

II. The Preexistence and Eternality of Christ

A. Preexistence

1. Definition of “Preexistence”

Christ existed before His birth.

2. Evidence for the Preexistence of Christ

a. Christ’s Heavenly Origin

John 3:13.  “No one has ever gone into heaven except for the one who came from heaven – the Son of Man.”  (cf. John 3:31)

b. Christ’s Role in Creation

John 1:3.  “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

Col. 1:16.  “For by him all things were created:  things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.”  (Cf. Heb 1:2)

c. Christ’s Relationship with the Father

John 17:5.  “...Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.”

d. Christi’s Relationship to John the Baptist

John 1:15.  John the Baptist says, “This is he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”  (Cf. John 1:30)

e. Conclusions

B. Eternality

1. Definition of “Eternality”

“Eternality means not only that Christ existed before His birth or even before Creation but that He existed always, eternally.”  (Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology)

“In the absolute sense, eternity is the realm in which there is no beginning and no end.  As a term relative to the concept of time, eternity is what lies beyond time and is not constrained by time.  Eternality, then, is the characteristic or attribute associated with God alone, because God has no beginning point and no ending point.  Eternality applies only to God in another way as well:  only God is uncaused.”  (“Eternity; Eternality” in Stanley J. Grenz, David Guretzki and Cherith Fee Nordling, Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms, Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity, 1999).

2. Evidence for the Eternality of Christ

a. Christ’s Relationship with the Father

John 10:30.  “I and the Father are one.”

Phil 2:6.  Christ Jesus “was in very nature God...”

i. God is, by nature, eternal

ii. Christ is the same nature as God

iii. Therefore, Christ is eternal

b. John Clearly States that Christ is the Eternal God

John 1:1.  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

c. Old Testament Prophets Claimed Eternality for the Messiah

Micah 5:2.  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come from me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.”

Isa 9:6.  “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

d. Paul Claimed Eternality for Christ

Col 1:17

e. Christ Claimed Eternality for Himself

John 8:52-53, 58.  Jews said:  “Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that if anyone keeps your word, he will never taste death.  Are you greater than our father Abraham?  . . .[Jesus responds,] “I tell you the truth, . . . before Abraham was born, I am!”

C. The Significance of the Preexistence and Eternality of Christ

1. Christological Concerns

If Jesus didn’t share the eternal attributes, He would not be God as a result.

2. Trinitarian Concerns

3. Ethical Concerns

III. The Activity of the Preincarnate Christ

A. Christ and Creation

John 1:3.  “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

Col 1:16.  Paul writes, “all things were created by him and for him.”

Cf. Heb 1:2

Col. 1:17.  “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

B. Christ as Messenger of Yahweh

1. “Angel of Yahweh” is the Self-Manifestation of Yahweh

Gen 16:7-14.  The “Angel of the Lord” finds Hagar in the desert.  Promises, “I will so increase your descendants that they will be too numerous to count.”

Gen 31:11-13.  The “Angel of the Lord” says to Jacob, “I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me.”

Jude 2:1-4.  The “Angel of the Lord” says, “I brought you up out of Egypt and led you into the land that I swore to give to your forefathers.”

This is in the first person.

The Angel of Yahweh, but distinct as well.

Cf. Gen 21:17-18; 22:11-18; Exod 3:2; Judg 5:23; Judg 6:11-22; Judg 13:3-22; 2 Sam 24:16; Zech 1:12; Zech 3:1; Zech 12:8

2. Yet “Angel of Yahweh” is Distinct From Yahweh

Gen 24:7.  Abraham says, “The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father’s household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, ‘To your offspring I will give this land’ – he will send his angel before you...”

Zech 1:12-13.  The “Angel of the Lord” himself says, “Lord Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah...?”

v13.  Zechariah says, “So the Lord spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me”

3. The OT “Angel of Yahweh” is Equated to Christ in the NT

IV. Conclusion:  The Preexistent and Eternal Christ