Christian Churches affirm that Jesus Christ, as the eternal Son of God, existed before his incarnation as the divine Logos. John 1:1-3 establishes this doctrine: 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.' The Word (Logos) through whom all things were created did not come into being at his birth but existed eternally with the Father.

The pre-existent Christ is identified with Old Testament theophanic manifestations—appearances of God the Son throughout Israel's history. The Angel of the Lord, Wisdom personified, and the Word speaking through the prophets are understood as pre-incarnate appearances of the same person who became incarnate in Jesus. This prevents a rupture between OT and NT revelation.

At the incarnation, this eternally pre-existent Son took on human flesh and nature while retaining his full divinity. His resurrection and ascension represent the continuation of his eternal divine existence in exalted human form. The incarnation is not the beginning of Christ's existence but the taking of human nature by one who is eternally God.