The concept of "before-time" in the Bible refers to the period before the creation of the world and the beginning of time as we understand it. This notion is deeply rooted in the understanding of God's eternal nature and His existence outside the constraints of time and space. The Bible provides several insights into this pre-temporal existence, emphasizing God's sovereignty, foreknowledge, and eternal purpose.

Eternal Nature of God

The Bible affirms that God exists beyond the confines of time. In Psalm 90:2 , it is written, "Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God." This verse highlights God's eternal existence, underscoring that He was present before the creation of the physical universe.

Foreknowledge and Predestination

The concept of before-time is also linked to God's foreknowledge and predestination. Ephesians 1:4 states, "For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence." This passage indicates that God's plan for humanity and His redemptive purposes were established before the creation of the world. It reflects the belief that God, in His omniscience, knew and ordained His purposes for creation and salvation before time began.

Christ's Pre-existence

The pre-existence of Christ is another significant aspect of before-time. John 1:1-2 declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning." This passage affirms that Jesus, the Word, existed with God before the creation of the world, emphasizing His divine nature and eternal existence.

The Lamb Slain Before the Foundation of the World

Revelation 13:8 refers to the Lamb who was "slain from the foundation of the world." This imagery conveys the idea that the sacrificial work of Christ was part of God's eternal plan, conceived before the creation of the world. It underscores the timeless nature of God's redemptive plan and His foreordained purpose for salvation through Jesus Christ.

Wisdom and Creation

Proverbs 8:22-23 personifies wisdom, stating, "The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His work, before His deeds of old. From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began." This passage illustrates the presence of divine wisdom before the creation of the world, further emphasizing the concept of before-time as a period where God's attributes and purposes were already in place.

Conclusion

The biblical concept of before-time serves to highlight the eternal nature of God, His foreknowledge, and His sovereign plan for creation and redemption. It underscores the belief that God's purposes transcend time, having been established before the foundation of the world. Through the pre-existence of Christ and the foreordained plan of salvation, the Bible presents a view of history that is deeply rooted in the eternal and unchanging nature of God.4391. prouparcho -- to exist beforehand
... exist beforehand. From pro and huparcho; to exist before, ie (adverbially) to be
or do something previously -- + be before(-time). see GREEK pro. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4391.htm - 6k7223. rishon -- former, first, chief
... ancestor, that were beforetime, beginning, eldest, first, forefather most, former ...
adjective or noun) -- ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest ...
/hebrew/7223.htm - 6k

8543. temol -- yesterday, recently, formerly
... 2), yesterday (4), yesterday* (1). before time, these three days, heretofore,
time past, yesterday. Or tmol {tem-ole'}; probably ...
/hebrew/8543.htm - 6k

Book iii. The Words of the Lord, I in the Father...
... 3. He therefore, the Unbegotten, before time was begot a Son from Himself; not from
any pre-existent matter, for all things are through the Son; not from ...
/.../hilary/the life and writings of st hilary of poitiers/book iii the words of.htm

The Eternity of God
... to come,' interprets the word Jehovah; (which is) he subsists of himself, having
a pure and independent being; (which was) God only was before time; there is ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/3 the eternity of god.htm

Whether we are to Believe that God, as He Has Always Been ...
... as I dare not say that there ever was a time when the Lord God was not Lord, [548]
so I ought not to doubt that man had no existence before time, and was first ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 15 whether we are to.htm

The Unrivalled Friend
... Before time began the Lord Jesus Christ had entered into covenant that he would
redeem a people unto himself, who should show forth his Father's praise. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/sermons on proverbs/the unrivalled friend.htm

Preliminary Note.
... The first section (verses 1-4) contains a description of the essence of the Divine
Word. He was before time began, was in association with God and was God. ...
/.../johnson/the new testament commentary vol iii john/preliminary note.htm

Christ's Own Testimony Concerning Himself.
... For he claims, as the Son, a real, self-conscious pre-existence before man, and
even before the world: consequently, also, before time; for time was created ...
/.../schaff/the person of christ/christs own testimony concerning himself.htm

Acts x. 23, 24
... What then? Was He "a respecter of persons" beforetime? God forbid! For
beforetime likewise it was just the same: "Every one," as ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on acts and romans/homily xxiii acts x 23.htm

Epistle iii. --To Fabius, Bishop of Antioch.
... Already, indeed, the edict had arrived; and it was of such a tenor as almost perfectly
to correspond with what was intimated to us beforetime by our Lord ...
/.../dionysius/the works of dionysius/epistle iii to fabius bishop of.htm

Revel. 3. 19. Be Zealous.
... wholly out of grace with the times, as poore Zeale; which yet if by any meanes it
might once againe be reduced into favour and practice, before Time sets, and ...
/.../revel 3 19 be zealous.htm

Further Proofs, from Ezekiel. Summary of the Prophetic Argument ...
... a "sign") in which the foundation of life was forelaid for mankind; (a "sign") in
which the Jews were not to believe: just as Moses beforetime kept on ...
/.../tertullian/an answer to the jews/chapter xi further proofs from ezekiel.htm

Beforetime (21 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Beforetime (21 Occurrences). ... Genesis 31:2 And Jacob beheld
the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as beforetime. ...
/b/beforetime.htm - 13k

Before-time (1 Occurrence)
Before-time. Beforetime, Before-time. Befriend . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(WBS). Beforetime, Before-time. Befriend . Reference Bible.
/b/before-time.htm - 6k

Beforehand (38 Occurrences)
... of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver up the manslayer into his
hand; because he smote his neighbour unawares, and hated him not beforetime. ...
/b/beforehand.htm - 17k

Formerly (55 Occurrences)
... Yahweh. (See NAS). Genesis 31:2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban,
and, behold, it was not toward him as beforetime. (See NAS). ...
/f/formerly.htm - 22k

Kiriath-sepher (4 Occurrences)
... Kiriath-sepher (4 Occurrences). Joshua 15:15 And he went up thence against the
inhabitants of Debir: now the name of Debir beforetime was Kiriath-sepher. ...
/k/kiriath-sepher.htm - 8k

Kiriath-arba (9 Occurrences)
... (ASV BBE NAS). Joshua 14:15 Now the name of Hebron beforetime was
Kiriath-arba; which Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. ...
/k/kiriath-arba.htm - 9k

Smote (281 Occurrences)
... Joshua 11:10 And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the
king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those ...
/s/smote.htm - 39k

Kir'iath-se'pher (4 Occurrences)
... Kir'iath-se'pher (4 Occurrences). Joshua 15:15 And he went up thence against the
inhabitants of Debir--now the name of Debir beforetime was Kiriath-sepher. ...
/k/kir'iath-se'pher.htm - 7k

Kir'iath-ar'ba (9 Occurrences)
... (See RSV). Joshua 14:15 Now the name of Hebron beforetime was Kiriath-arba, which
Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. And the land had rest from war. ...
/k/kir'iath-ar'ba.htm - 9k

Noticed (19 Occurrences)
... it. (WEB RSV). Genesis 31:2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and,
behold, it was not toward him as beforetime. (See NIV). ...
/n/noticed.htm - 11k

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