The Beginning Problem
Begotten in the express image
“A complete offering has been made; for ‘God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,’-- not a son by creation, as were the angels, nor a son by adoption, as is the forgiven sinner, but a Son begotten in the express image of the Father's person, and in all the brightness of his majesty and glory, one equal with God in authority, dignity, and divine perfection. In him dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” {EGW, ST May 30, 1895, par. 3; 1895}
Made in the express image
“The Eternal Father, the unchangeable one, gave his only begotten Son, tore from his bosom Him who was made in the express image of his person, and sent him down to earth to reveal how greatly he loved mankind.” {EGW, RH July 9, 1895, par. 13; 1895}
“In order that man might be placed on vantage ground with God, Christ, the only begotten Son of God, made in His express image, came to this world and in the likeness of humanity lived a perfect life….” {EGW, Ms127-1905.14; 1905}
Made in the likeness of God
“Christ was the Lord of heaven and earth, yet for our sake He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich. He was made in the likeness of God, yet He humbled Himself and took upon Him the form of a servant, that He might save us.” {EGW, Lt133-1905.6; 1905}
Assimilated to the image of God
Lucifer was the most beautiful angel in the heavenly courts next to Jesus Christ, but Christ was one with God, assimilated to the image of God to do the will of God. 25LtMs, Ms 90, 1910, par. 4
The quotations like these indicate that Jesus does have a beginning. Specifically, that He was begotten or made in the image of the Father's person.
When was Jesus begotten or made in the express image of the Father's person?
Our scholars are claiming that these quotations are referring to the incarnation of Christ:
“The Father, Son relationship in the New Testament, must always be understood in the light of the event of Bethlehem. The only child born into this world with a divine rather than a human father is Jesus. The title ‘son’ refers to His entry into time and does not deny at all His eternal origins. There are references in the Old Testament to ‘sonship’ but these are always in anticipation of the incarnation.” {J. R. Hoffman, “Is Jesus Jehovah God?” Ministry Magazine, June 1982, p. 24.}
“He will be called the Son of God precisely because He was conceived in Mary’s womb by a miracle, as was Isaac, not because He always was the Son of God by nature before coming to our world.” (Ty Gipson, The Sonship of Christ, p. 57 Kindle)
Was it at His incarnation?
“Before Christ came in the likeness of men, he existed in the express image of his Father.” {EGW, YI December 20, 1900, par. 4; 1900}
So prior to His incarnation Jesus 'existed in the express image of His Father', meaning that He must have been begotten in the express image of His Father, prior to His incarnation.
“God sent His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, liable to physical infirmities, tempted in all points like as we are. He was the Son of the living God. His personality did not begin with His incarnation in the flesh.” {EGW, Lt77-1894.9; 1894}
"His personality did not begin with His incarnation in the flesh"
“When Christ first announced to the heavenly host His mission and work in the world, He declared that He was to leave His position of dignity and disguise His holy mission by assuming the likeness of a man, when in reality He was the Son of the infinite God.” {EGW, Lt303-1903.14; 1903}
Jesus was the Son of God prior to His incarnation. What does the Bible says?
4. Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son’s name, if thou canst tell?
God the creator has the Son. His Son was with Him in the creation. Christ testified Himself to this point:
22. The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26. While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28. When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29. When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30. Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31. Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
The Bible teaches that God created everything by His Son (Ephesians 3:8; Hebrew 1:2; Colossians 1:16). Proverbs 8 expounds how wisdom was with God in creating the world. The Bible is clear that God created everything by wisdom (Proverbs 3:19; Psalm 104:24). This leads us to infer that wisdom is represented by God’s Son. The confirmation of this inference is in 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30 and Colossians 2:3, where Christ “who of God is made unto us wisdom”, because in Him “are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”—“Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God”. Comparing Spiritual with Spiritual, the inspired writings testify that wisdom speaking in Proverbs 8 is the Son of God Himself
“And the Son of God declares concerning Himself: ‘The Lord possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting.... When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.’ Proverbs 8:22-30.” {EGW, PP 34.1; 1890}
Two mutual contradicting concepts are expressed in the same breath. How can the wisdom (Christ) be eternal - from everlasting, and from beginning at the same time?
- The word 'possessed' is the Hebrew word ‘qânâh’ which means 'to get', 'acquire' or 'posses'. The Father acquired the wisdom (His Son) from the beginning of His way.
- The word 'set up' is the Hebrew word ‘nâsak’ which means 'to pour out', 'to set' or 'install', in analogy to anoint the king. Christ was 'nâsak' from everlasting, from the beginning.
From the given text, we cannot deny that Christ is eternal, but neither can we deny that Christ has a beginning. The similar wording is expressed in Micah 5:2
2. But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Christ's goings forth are from old from everlasting. Christ came forth from everlasting.
Catholic theology claims that goings (plural) forth are representing eternal generation of the Son. This is a false depiction of the Son of God. The reason why the goings is in plural, is 'pluralis majestatis', indicating the significance, grandeur of this event.
How to harmonize?
How can we harmonize the contradiction that Christ is eternal, yet has a beginning, since He was begotten or made in the express image of the Father's person?
“The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father. He was the surpassing glory of heaven. He was the commander of the heavenly intelligences, and the adoring homage of the angels was received by him as his right. This was no robbery of God. 'The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way,' he declares, 'before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth; while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth.'” {EGW, RH April 5, 1906, par. 7; 1906}
“There are light and glory in the truth that Christ was one with the Father before the foundation of the world was laid. This is the light shining in a dark place, making it resplendent with divine, original glory. This truth, infinitely mysterious in itself**, explains other mysterious and otherwise unexplainable truths, while it is enshrined in light,** unapproachable and incomprehensible.” {EGW, RH April 5, 1906, par. 8; 1906}
It is the truth of the divine Son of God’s eternal oneness with the Father. “Eternal sonship” is an oxymoron. If Christ is eternal, how can He be a Son? The answer “is enshrined in light, unapproachable and incomprehensible”.
Just because we cannot comprehend the idea that Jesus is eternal, yet having a beginning, does not prove the the point that Christ is not eternal, or that He does not have a beginning. It is not one or the other. If the revelation inclusively uses both testimonies, we should accept both on the basis of the Authority of God.
The revelation applies the same concept of eternal existence and beginning to the Plan of Salvation. Such notion is not a strange biblical concept. We cannot explain it, because they are incomprehensible mysteries. We should take the bible as it reads and not doubt it.