Did Jesus Have a Past Life? Destiny vs. Preexistence

A Trinity person asked...

Please explain how the Word that became flesh (Jesus) was with God and was God in the beginning before Christ was born? And how could Jesus have looked forward to the glory he had BEFORE becoming flesh?

And then someone replied with this...

Jesus did not physically exist before his birth, but rather was foreordained according to 1 Peter 1:20, which explains the “pre-existence” verses. God’s Word “Logos” in John 1:1 refers to God’s plan, wisdom, and intention. NOT a “second person” of the doctrine of men’s Trinity. That “Word” became flesh when Jesus was born and that was in John 1:14.

The “Word” was with God in the beginning because God’s plan and purpose for salvation was with Him from the start. But not as a literal person yet. So in John 17:5, when Jesus says he had glory with God before the world began, he’s not talking about remembering a past life. He’s asking the Father to now give him the glory that was planned for him all along.

Just like believers are said to be chosen “before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4), even though we didn’t exist yet. It’s about destiny, not preexistence. Jesus is God’s human Messiah, born at a specific time (Luke 1:35), not an eternal being who became a man. The beauty is that God’s plan - His Word - became a real person, when the precious Son was born!

Written by: Colleen Farris