Pre-existence of Christ

Whether Christ existed before his human birth — as the eternal Logos, as a created angel, or not at all before Bethlehem.

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Overall consensus88/100

Plymouth Brethren

Plymouth Brethren

Other Protestant

Affirms

Jesus existed as the divine Logos before His incarnation.

The Plymouth Brethren affirm that Christ existed eternally before His incarnation as the divine Word (Logos). He was not created but eternally begotten of the Father, and was active in creation. His pre-incarnate appearances in the Old Testament (theophanies) are understood as manifestations of the Son. This eternal pre-existence is crucial to Brethren Christology.

Key Distinctions

Preexistence affirmed:
affirmed — the Son/Logos eternally pre-existed the Incarnation
Ot identity:
the eternal Word and agent of creation (John 1:1-3); identified with YHWH in various OT theophanies

Scripture References

Sources

  • J.N. Darby, Lectures on the Gospel of John
  • Brethren theological writings