Question:
Dear Greg,
What
are your thoughts on Jesus’ appearing in the Old Testament?
Does he appear as the Angel of the Lord?
I’ve had this topic come up in my adult Sunday school class while
teaching on the book of Judges. There
were also references in my NIV Student Bible and many commentaries that I’ve
read that Jesus appeared in the Old Testament as the Angel of the Lord.
I didn’t realize how much a debate this topic was until now.
So, if you have studied or have some information or insight on this
topic, let me know.
Thanks,
I look forward to your response.
Scott
Answer: Dear Scott,
Jesus,
of course, is the Eternal Son of God, the second person of the Godhead.
He is the Alpha and Omega, without beginning and without end.
It would appear from the biblical record that the pre-incarnate Jesus,
the Eternal Son of God, was the visible representation of God among humans in
the Old Testament just as he was the visible representation of God in his
incarnation in the Old Testament.
This
subject is intensely interesting to many and can be filled with speculation and
some potholes. One of, if not the
most important part of the topic, is the deity of Jesus Christ.
As with so many other topics, we need to start with the nature of God as
revealed to us in the Bible. A
little refresher for your Sunday school class on the Trinity might be helpful. Why? For many it
is a very small step to say that Jesus “appeared” as an angel to the next
step that Jesus actually was an angel—created and not divine. We are, of course, at that point outside of the boundaries of
historic and orthodox Christianity that has maintained Jesus was and is God,
believed and taught by Christians for the last 2000 years.
A
great source that studies this subject in depth is “Christ Before the
Manger” by Ron Rhodes, published by Baker Books.
Ron Rhodes sets these boundaries and then explains the appearances of God
in the Old Testament. Hope this helps—may God bless you with your Sunday school
class.
In
Christ,
Greg
Albrecht