What was Jesus before the Incarnation?

[Scott_Waddell]

I never thought about this before, but since we believe that the Trinity always existed, what was Jesus before he became incarnate? A spirit? A heavenly body?

Thanks,

Scott

 

[DeFide]

Short answer: Pure spirit.

God in his essence is a pure spirit, neither a body nor a composition of body and spirit. The incarnation is not an essential part of his divinity.

 

[RyanL]

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John 1

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,  and the Word was God;

2this one was in the beginning with God;

3all things through him did happen, and without him happened not even one thing that hath happened.

4In him was life, and the life was the light of men,

5and the light in the darkness did shine, and the darkness did not perceive it.

he was the eternal word, “Jesus.” he was the light, the truth, and the way. he was who is. you may review your nicean creed for greater detail.

 

[PeterC]

G

lory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. I have heard this prayer said with “was then” replacing “was in the beginning”.

 

[JimG]

“Before” the incarnation has meaning only in human terms, not Divine terms.

The Trinity–Father, Son, and Spirit–One God, is eternal and always existing.

From our perspective, the Son, ‘in the fullness of time’ took on a human nature and became man.

From God’s perspective, the Incarnation was neither before nor after any other point in time. So there is a sense in which God the Son is eternally incarnate. And in heaven, God the Son is both God and man

 

[Philthy]

He was the eternally begotten Son of the Father.God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, One in being with the Father.

Phil

 

[Exporter]

Excellent answers. They would do a student of Theology proud.