One of the most common objections raised against the deity of Jesus Christ is this question: “If Jesus is God, why did He have a beginning?” Many point to verses that speak of Jesus being “begotten,” “born,” or called the “firstborn,” and conclude that He must have been created and therefore cannot be the eternal God. At first glance, this argument may seem convincing, but does it truly reflect what the Bible teaches?
A careful study of Scripture reveals that this objection is based on a misunderstanding of Christ’s nature and His incarnation. The Bible consistently declares that Jesus existed before all creation, that He is the eternal Word of God, and that all things were made through Him. While Jesus indeed had a beginning in His human life when He was conceived and born of the virgin Mary, His divine nature has no beginning or end. In this article, we will examine the biblical passages often cited against Christ’s deity and compare them with the many verses that affirm His eternal existence, demonstrating that Jesus did not begin to exist in Bethlehem—He merely took on human flesh for the salvation of mankind.
The birth of Jesus was God’s entrance to the world in human form as foretold by prophet Isaiah, he announced;
[Isaiah 9:6] For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
[Isaiah 7:14] Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).
Roughly 700 years before Jesus, prophet Isaiah predicted the coming of the Son. He will be born to a virgin woman and will be called Mighty God or everlasting Father. The prophecies above was fulfilled in Mary, angel Gabriel said to her;
[Luke 1:30-32] So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you shall give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
The first couple fell to sin, thus death entered the world. Mankind became separated from the glory of God. The Holy Spirit that clothed them and gave them eternal life vanished from them. Only perfect or sinless man can wear the clothes of eternal life. God searched for a perfect man among us to be the savior of mankind, but found no one [Isaiah 59:16 & Romans 3:10]. Because of His great love, God put the saving work in His hand. It is man who died because of sin therefore it is also man who will rise from the dead. This is the reason why God raised a human being and took a spirit from His spirit and put on this man [Deuteronomy 18:18, Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18, & John 14:10]. The human body of Jesus has a beginning, but His Spirit has no beginning and end because It is a portion of God’s spirit. Jesus declared that He has no beginning and end;
[John 8:58] Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I AM”
[John 8:23-24] “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I AM HE, you will indeed die in your sins.”
[John 13:19] “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I AM WHO I AM.
: Jesus took the name of God given to Moses in John 8:23-24 & John 13:19, Compare these verses to Isaiah 43:10 & Exodus 3:13-14;
[Exodus 3:13-14] “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you’.
[Isaiah 43:10] “You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I AM HE. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.
: “I AM, I AM HE, or I AM WHO I AM”, is the title of God mentioned in the Bible. It speaks His self-existence; that He has no beginning and end, that He is the First and the Last, ever the same.
The savior must be a perfect man, that’s why Jesus though also God, did not use his divinity to his advantage (Philippians 2:6), instead he used his humanity in obeying the law perfectly. If Jesus had used his power to bypass the law, how could he be sinless? How could he be righteous? And how could his saving sacrifice for humankind be valid?
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Cebuano version of this post: Kung si Hesus Ginoo, nganong Siya adunay Sinugdanan?
Tagalog version of this post: Kung si Hesus ay Diyos, bakit Siya ay may simula?
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