Pre-existence of Christ
ChristologyWhether Christ existed before his human birth — as the eternal Logos, as a created angel, or not at all before Bethlehem.
Key scriptures: John 1:1-3, John 8:58, Colossians 1:15-17, Micah 5:2
Catholic (5)
Eastern Catholic (Byzantine Rite)
Affirms
The eternal Logos pre-existed as Son before the Incarnation
Maronite Catholic
Affirms
Eternal Logos pre-existed as Son before the Incarnation
Old Catholic Church
Affirms
Eternal Logos; pre-existent Son; divine attributes; incarnated in Jesus
Roman Catholic
Affirms
The eternal Son pre-existed all creation as second person of the Trinity
Saint Thomas Christians (Syro-Malabar Church)
Affirms
Eternal generation of the Son; the Logos; eternal Word made flesh
Orthodox (5)
Assyrian Church of the East
Affirms
Eternal Word pre-existed all creation; incarnation is entry of eternal into time
Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
Affirms
Eternal Logos pre-existed all creation as second person of the Trinity
Eastern Orthodox
Affirms
Eternal Logos co-existed with the Father before all ages and all creation
Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church
Affirms
Eternal Logos pre-existed all creation before taking flesh in Mary
Oriental Orthodox (Miaphysite)
Affirms
The eternal Logos pre-existed all creation before the Incarnation
Mainline Protestant (8)
Anglican / Episcopalian
Affirms
Eternal Son pre-existent before the Incarnation
Calvinist / Reformed
Affirms
Son of God eternally pre-existent; Incarnation a temporal act
Congregationalist (UCC)
Varies
Historical Congregationalism affirms; UCC spectrum includes open Christologies
Lutheran
Affirms
Eternal Son pre-existed the Incarnation from all eternity
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Affirms
Eternal, preexistent Son of God; Logos who created and sustains all things
Methodist
Affirms
Eternal Son pre-existent before the Incarnation
Presbyterian
Affirms
Eternal Son pre-existent; Incarnation is the assumption of humanity
Reformed Church in America
Affirms
Eternal divine existence; Logos pre-existent; agent of creation; divine eternity
Evangelical (15)
Baptist (Southern Baptist Convention)
Affirms
Christ eternally pre-existed as divine Son before his incarnation
Calvary Chapel
Affirms
Christ existed eternally as the divine Son before the Incarnation
Christian & Missionary Alliance
Affirms
Christ is the eternal Son; Logos who existed with God before incarnation
Christian Reformed Church in North America
Affirms
Christ eternally pre-existed as divine Son before his incarnation
Church of the Nazarene
Affirms
Christ pre-existed eternally as the divine Son before taking on human flesh
Evangelical Covenant Church
Affirms
Christ is the eternal Son; Logos who existed before incarnation; coeternal with Father
Evangelical Free Church of America
Affirms
Christ pre-existed eternally as divine Son before the incarnation
IFCA International (Independent Fundamental Churches of America)
Affirms
Eternal Son of God; preincarnate activity and appearances in Old Testament
National Association of Free Will Baptists
Affirms
Christ eternally pre-existed as divine Son before his incarnation
Non-denominational Evangelical
Affirms
Christ existed eternally as the divine Son before taking on human flesh
Pentecostal (Assemblies of God)
Affirms
Christ existed eternally as divine Son before incarnation; creator of all things
Presbyterian Church in America
Affirms
Eternal divine existence; Logos; active agent in creation; Old Testament Christophany
Reformed Baptist Churches (1689 London Baptist Confession)
Affirms
Eternal generation of the Son; preincarnate activity; Covenant of Redemption
The Wesleyan Church
Affirms
Eternal Son; divine Logos; participated in creation; pre-incarnate appearances
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
Affirms
Eternal preexistent Son; divine Logos; created all things; OT theophanies affirmed
Charismatic (5)
Charismatic Movement
Affirms
Christ existed eternally as divine Son before becoming incarnate
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Affirms
Eternal Son; divine Logos; pre-incarnate activity; participated in creation
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Affirms
Eternal Son; pre-existed before incarnation as the divine Word (Logos)
International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
Affirms
Eternal Son; pre-existed incarnation; divine Word through whom all created
Vineyard Churches
Affirms
Christ eternally pre-existed as the divine Son before the Incarnation
Anabaptist (5)
Amish (Old Order)
Affirms
Christ is the eternal Son who existed with God before the Incarnation
Brethren in Christ Church
Affirms
Eternal Son; Logos who existed before incarnation; creator and sustainer of all
Church of the Brethren
Affirms
Eternal Logos; Son existed before incarnation; creator and sustainer of all
Hutterite Brethren
Affirms
Christ is the eternal Word who existed with God before the Incarnation
Mennonite Church
Affirms
Christ existed eternally as divine Word before the Incarnation
Adventist & Restorationist (5)
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Affirms
Christ's pre-existence affirmed in mainstream teaching; no binding creed
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Affirms
Eternal Logos; pre-existent Son; active in Old Testament; incarnated in Jesus
Churches of Christ
Affirms
Christ existed eternally with God before becoming incarnate
International Churches of Christ
Affirms
Christ is the eternal Word who existed with God before the Incarnation
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Affirms
Christ is the eternal Son who existed before the Incarnation
Other Protestant (8)
Moravian Church (Unitas Fratrum)
Affirms
Christ existed eternally before incarnation as divine Word.
Plymouth Brethren
Affirms
Jesus existed as the divine Logos before His incarnation.
Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Varies
Evangelical affirm; position varies among liberal Quakers
Seventh Day Baptist General Conference
Affirms
Christ eternally pre-existed as divine Son before incarnation in time
The Salvation Army
Affirms
Affirm eternal pre-existence; Word existed before incarnation
True Jesus Church
Affirms
Jesus is the eternal God who existed before His incarnation
Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
Affirms
Jesus the eternal Son; Word pre-existed creation; coequal with Father from eternity
Waldensian Church (Chiesa Evangelica Valdese)
Affirms
Christ eternally pre-existed as divine Son before incarnation in time
Non-Trinitarian (6)
Biblical Unitarians
Denies
Christ did not pre-exist as a divine being; he began at his conception in Mary
Christadelphians
Denies
Christ had no pre-existence; he began at conception in Mary's womb
Church of God General Conference (Abrahamic Faith)
Denies
Christ did not pre-exist; he began at conception; existed in God's plan before
Jehovah's Witnesses
Affirms
Jesus pre-existed as Michael the Archangel, Jehovah's first creation
Oneness Pentecostals (UPCI)
Nuanced
The eternal God pre-existed; the Son (human nature) began at the incarnation
Unitarian Universalist
Denies
Pre-existence of Christ rejected historically; most UUs do not affirm it
Latter-day Saint (2)
Unique & Independent (7)
Armstrongism (Sabbatarian splinter groups)
Affirms
Jesus pre-existed as 'the Word'; creator of all things; the God of the Old Testament
Church of Christ, Scientist
Nuanced
Christ-idea eternally pre-exists; Jesus as person did not pre-exist
General Church of the New Jerusalem (Swedenborgian)
Affirms
The Word/Jehovah pre-existed eternally; Incarnation took on humanity
Iglesia ni Cristo
Denies
Jesus did not pre-exist; born in Bethlehem; no pre-existence as divine
Message Movement (Branhamism)
Affirms
Jesus is the eternal Word; God incarnate; the Angel of the Lord in Old Testament
Messianic Judaism
Affirms
Yeshua pre-existed as Memra (Word/Logos); agent of creation
New Apostolic Church
Affirms
Eternal Son begotten of the Father; Word (Logos) incarnate
African Independent (4)
Cherubim and Seraphim Church
Affirms
Jesus the eternal Son; Word of God pre-existed creation; coequal with Father from eternity
Church of Jesus Christ on Earth through the Prophet Simon Kimbangu (EJCSK)
Affirms
Christ pre-existed with God the Father before the Incarnation
Redeemed Christian Church of God
Affirms
Eternal Son pre-existed all creation; the Word that became incarnate flesh
Zion Christian Church
Affirms
Christ pre-existed with Father; agent of creation before Incarnation