Was Jesus truly God from the first moment of His conception?

[Ontheway]

Catholic Encyclopedia states that: “**Jesus was truly God from the first moment of His conception”
** to explain Mary’s divine motherhood.

St. John in his gospel “identifies Him with the Word, the only-begotten of the Father, Who from all eternity exists with God”. (Catholic Encyclopedia - The Dogma of the Trinity.

If the Word exists with God from all eternity, and is God, the second person of the Trinity, how can we reconcile this with the statement that He was God from the first moment of His conception? Was He not God before Mary came into the picture?

Any answer and/or recommendation of books to read would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi,

Jesus is one person with two natures; a divine nature and a human nature. In His divine nature he has no beginning; He always was. But as man, He had a beginning. His human nature began in Mary’s womb. Further, in His human nature He died on the cross. In His divine nature He could not die.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.