Eternal divine existence; Logos; active agent in creation; Old Testament Christophany
The PCA affirms that Christ, as the Son of God, existed eternally with the Father before the foundation of the world. The Logos, the divine Word, is the agent through whom all things were created and by whom all things are sustained.
Christ's pre-existence is testified throughout Scripture. He is described as the image of the invisible God, existing before all creation, with all things created through and for him. In the Old Testament, appearances of the Angel of the Lord and manifestations of divine wisdom are understood as Christophanies—pre-incarnate appearances of the eternal Son.
The incarnation did not originate Christ's existence but rather his taking on of human nature. The Son was actively involved in sustaining creation and providential history prior to his incarnation. This eternal pre-existence is essential to understanding Christ as fully divine and to the coherence of the doctrine of the Trinity.
Key Distinctions
- Preexistence affirmed:
- Same Son throughout OT and NT; no fundamental change
- Eternal nature:
- Son eternally begotten, not created
Scripture References
Sources
- Westminster Confession of Faith VIII.1
- Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 19