Preexistence of Christ :: essays research papers

Preexistence of the NazareneAdvanced InformationThe preincarnate existence of Christ may be "only a simple, contemplative inference backwards from the phantasmal glory of the present Christ" (Deissmann) certainly its clearest expression is found in later writing reflecting upon the rudimentary messianic, even adoptionist, assessment of Christ in the primitive Christian community (Acts 222 - 23 1038). Yet preexistence is at least implied in words of Jesus himself "The give-and-take of man came" the owner of the vineyard "had still. . . a be wonderd son eventu aloney he sent him." It is explicit in sayings attri neverthelessed to Jesus in cans gospel truth "I came down from heaven" "The glory I had with thee before the valet de chambre was."Jewish scholars attributed "ideal" preexistence to things (law, temple) and persons (Adam, Moses) deeply reverenced, echoed perhaps in Pauls calling Christ "last Adam. . . from heaven." Greek thinking, reflected in Philo, was familiar with preexistence of souls. But it is unnecessary to take here more than a source of usable terms. The idea that the password of matinee idol, eternally preexisting in glory with the Father, moved by love became incarnate was too central to Christian faith to depend upon coincidences of linguistic process for its basis.BELIEVEReligiousInformationSourceweb-site Our List of 1,000 Religious Subjects electronic mail Paul appeals for generosity because Christ, "through rich, became poor." He pleads that converts live as sons because " beau ideal sent forth his son" argues for self effacement from the fact that Christ, universe in the form of God, "emptied himself" contends, against the Gnostics pleroma filling the gulf between God and creation, that "all things were created in, through, and for Christ. . . who is before all things." As "Lord from heaven" Christ provides the pattern of our res urrected humanity as he first descended, so he has ascended, the esteem of his triumph and assurance of ours (2 Cor. 89 Gal. 44 Phil. 25 - 6 Col. 115 - 16 Eph. 48 - 9). For such practical, pastoral exhortations one does not argue from fringe speculations, but only from familiar, accepted, foundation truths.Johns Gospel and Epistle, assuming that Christ came from God and went to God (John 133), emphasize his being sent by the Father on divine mission, expressing divine love (John 316 1 John 49 - 10), a revelation of the unseen Father by one belonging "in the bosom of the Father" (John 118), a divine Word, present when God spoke at creation and now again conveying meaning and power to the world (John 1).