The Eternal Son

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 3, 1908

THAT the Word who “became flesh” was “in the beginning,” and that through him God the Father was revealed to the world, becomes clear through the study of the Old Testament Scriptures. This truth has been well stated by Dr. Gerlach, the German theologian, in these words:—

Throughout the whole Old Testament there runs the distinction between the hidden God and the Revealer of God, himself equal with God, who most frequently is called “the Messenger, the Angel of the Lord,” “Malachi-Jehovah,”—one with him, and yet distinct from him. This Messenger of the Lord is the Guide of the patriarchs; the Caller of Moses; the Leader of the people through the wilderness; the Champion of the Israelites in Canaan; and also, yet further, the Guide and Ruler of the people of the covenant; or, as he is called (Isa. 63:9), “the Angel of his presence;” by Malachi, as “the Messenger of the covenant.” This Angel of the Lord often in the Old Testament speaks as Jehovah, and his appearing is regarded as that of the most high God himself. Nay, God says expressly of this Angel, “My name, [i. e., my revealed Being] is in him.” In the New Testament the expressions, “The Word,” “Son,” “Express Image,” “Brightness,” betoken the same; viz., the countenance turned to man, the Revealer of the invisible God. The future appearance on earth of the God-man is gradually prepared for in the Old Testament in two ways: on the one hand, there is promised a mighty and glorious human Ruler over all (in later times called “Messiah”—the Anointed of the Lord), to whom at the same time in his human nature, divine names, attributes, and works are ascribed; on the other hand, the personal distinction in the Godhead, the Revealer of the invisible God as a separate person, is more and more clearly made known.

This clear testimony to the pre-existence of Christ needs to be emphasized in these days when he is being reduced to a mere man, sustaining the same relation to God as any other man. Such teaching directly contradicts the whole trend of both the Old and the New Testament Scriptures.