Answers about preexistence

According to John 1:1-3 which is the correct reading “and the Word was God” or “and the Word was a god” & why?

The words at the end of verse 1 (και θεος ην ο λογος) are correctly translated “and the Word was God”. Because of the absence of the definite article (i.e. “the”) in the Greek, some translators (particularly JWs) believe that it should be translated “and the Word was a god”. However, in Greek the absence [...]

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What did John mean when he said “‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me”? (John 1:30)

John the Baptist said this when Jesus came to be baptised: The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he [...]

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Who is the Lord in Genesis 18:1?

The word ‘LORD’ in Genesis 18:1 is referring to God. Here is a quote from a previous answer on BibleQ: In the Old Testament, it is common to see LORD in upper case letters (actually in small caps). In these cases, the Hebrew word is יהוה (Yahweh). This is the personal name of God (see [...]

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Is or was Jesus an angel?

No, Jesus is not — and never was — an angel. Hebrews 1 makes this clear, especially Hebrews 1:3-5 & 13: {3} …After making purification for sins, he [God's son -- v2 -- i.e. Jesus] sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, {4} having become as much superior to angels as [...]

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What does it mean that Jesus “emptied himself”? (Phil.2:6-9)

The phrase “emptied himself” is an alternative rendering for the phrase in bold below: Philippians 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the [...]

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Who are the “us” in “let us go down” of Gen.11:7?

See Who is God speaking to in Genesis 1:26? That answer deals more simply with these two verses: Gen 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock [...]

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What does “coming forth from ancient days” mean? (Micah 5:2)

Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. The verse is one of the few verses in the Old Testament [...]

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What does ‘the word became flesh’ mean?

John 1:1 says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And v14 says: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jesus fulfilled the [...]

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What did Jesus mean when he said “before Abraham was, I am”?

John 8:56-59 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” 59 So [...]

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