Rejection of the full divine pre-existence of Christ

Most unitarian currents reject the view that Christ is eternally God coequal with the Father.

11%

Confidence

Supportive

Contrary

Neutral

What it is: This belief denies that Jesus is eternally the same supreme God as the Father in full trinitarian coexistence.

How the tradition understands it: Many currents hold that Jesus began his existence at human conception or, in minority currents, that he pre-existed in a subordinate way, but not as coequal God. The decisive point is the rejection of full Nicene divine pre-existence.

Textual basis or tradition: Texts on the human origin of Jesus and non-ontological readings of John 1 and other passages are important in the debate.

Historical context: The theme was one of the main boundaries between unitarianism and other Trinitarian Christian traditions.

Common objections: Critics appeal to John 1, Philippians 2, and Colossians 1 in defense of a higher pre-existence.

Internal variations: The most important divergence is between humanitarian unitarians and currents of subordinate pre-existence.

Contrary

Colossians 1:15-17

bible,christ,preexistence,controversy,unitarianism

Text used in debates about Christ's preexistence.

Reference: Colossians 1:15-17.

Content: Paul calls Christ the image of the invisible God and the firstborn of all creation.

Use in debate: It is used against Unitarianism by defenders of high Christology; Unitarians respond with functional, sapiential, or subordinational readings.

John 1:1

bible,christology,logos,controversy,unitarianism

Central text in Christological dispute.

Reference: John 1:1.

Content: The Johannine prologue describes the Logos in relation to God.

Use in debate: It is one of the most debated passages between Unitarians and Trinitarians, with differing readings on the meaning of divinity and preexistence.

Philippians 2:5-11

bible,christ,exaltation,controversy,unitarianism

Central text on the humiliation and exaltation of Christ.

Reference: Philippians 2:5-11.

Content: The Christological hymn speaks of Christ's humiliation and exaltation.

Use in debate: It is a key text in debates among Trinitarian, Adamic, functional, and preexistence readings of Christ.