The concept of existence in the Bible is deeply rooted in the nature of God, creation, and the reality of human life. The term "existed" is not frequently used in the biblical text, but the idea permeates Scripture, reflecting the eternal nature of God and His creation.

God's Eternal Existence

The Bible begins with the affirmation of God's eternal existence. Genesis 1:1 states, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This verse implies that God existed before the beginning of time and creation. His eternal nature is further emphasized in Psalm 90:2, "Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God."

In the New Testament, the eternal existence of God is affirmed in Revelation 1:8, where God declares, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End." This statement underscores God's timeless nature, existing beyond the confines of time and space.

Christ's Pre-Existence

The pre-existence of Christ is a central tenet of Christian theology. John 1:1-3 affirms, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made." This passage identifies Jesus, the Word, as existing before creation and being instrumental in the act of creation itself.

Philippians 2:6-7 speaks of Christ's pre-existence and incarnation: "Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness." This highlights the divine nature of Christ and His voluntary assumption of human form.

Human Existence

The Bible also addresses the existence of humanity, created by God and for His purposes. Genesis 1:27 states, "So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Human existence is portrayed as a reflection of God's image, endowed with purpose and meaning.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 provides insight into the purpose of human existence: "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil." This passage emphasizes the moral and spiritual dimensions of human life, accountable to God.

Existence Beyond Death

The Bible teaches that existence continues beyond physical death. In John 11:25-26, Jesus declares, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die." This promise of eternal life through faith in Christ assures believers of their continued existence with God.

Revelation 21:4 offers a vision of the eternal state: "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away." This future existence is characterized by the absence of suffering and the presence of God.

In summary, the concept of existence in the Bible encompasses the eternal nature of God, the pre-existence of Christ, the purposeful creation of humanity, and the promise of eternal life. These themes underscore the profound theological understanding of existence as revealed in Scripture.(imp. & p. p.) of Exist.1510. eimi -- I exist, I am
... 1), belonging* (1), belongs (4), bring* (1), came (1), come (5), consist (1), crave*
(1), depends* (1), do (1), done* (1), exist (3), existed (4), existed* (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1510.htm - 9k

600. apokathistemi -- to restore, give back
... 600 (from 570 , "separated " and 2525 , "have a definite standing") -- properly,
restore back to original standing, ie that existed before a fall; , returning ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/600.htm - 8k

1096. ginomai -- to come into being, to happen, to become
... 16), comes (1), comes to pass (1), coming (1), dawn (1), decided* (1), developing
(1), done (20), drawing (1), during (1), elapsed (1), existed* (1), falling (1 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1096.htm - 15k

5225. huparcho -- to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be
... Origin from hupo and archo Definition to begin, to be ready or at hand, to be NASB
Word Usage been (2), being (9), belonging (1), exist (1), existed (1), gone ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5225.htm - 8k

1961. hayah -- to fall out, come to pass, become, be
... 1), continue (6), continued (3), correspond (1), decided* (1), done (4), done*
(1), ended* (13), endure (3), event* (1), exhausted (1), existed (3), exists (2 ...
/hebrew/1961.htm - 8k

Whether Passions Existed in the Soul of the First Man?
... OF THINGS PERTAINING TO THE FIRST MAN'S WILL"-NAMELY, GRACE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS (FOUR
ARTICLES) Whether passions existed in the soul of the first man? ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether passions existed in the.htm

Proposition ii: There must have Existed from Eternity one ...
... Proposition II: There must have existed from eternity one independent being. There
has existed from eternity, [3] some one unchangeable and independent being. ...
/.../ii proposition ii there must.htm

The Comeliness of virginity Never Existed Amongst the Heathen...
... The comeliness of virginity never existed amongst the heathen? ... How she would desire
that her speech had existed as a defence of her chastity! ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter iv the comeliness of.htm

Whether the Universe of Creatures Always Existed?
... OF THE BEGINNING OF THE DURATION OF CREATURES (THREE ARTICLES) Whether
the universe of creatures always existed? Objection 1: It ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the universe of creatures.htm

To those who Say that Souls Existed Before Bodies, or that Bodies ...
... XXVIII. To those who say that souls existed before bodies, or that bodies were formed
before souls; wherein there is also a refutation of the fables concerning ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/xxviii to those who say.htm

Whether in the State of Innocence Generation Existed?
... OF THE PRESERVATION OF THE SPECIES (TWO ARTICLES) Whether in the state of
innocence generation existed? Objection 1: It would seem ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether in the state of 6.htm

Since These Ills Existed in the Church, Secular Affairs Also Fell ...
... Book VIII. Chapter XXV."Since these Ills existed in the Church, Secular Affairs
also fell into Disorder. The Affairs of Stilicho, the General of Honorius. ...
/.../chapter xxv since these ills existed.htm

Marriage Existed Before Sin was Committed. How God's Blessing ...
... Book II. On Original Sin. Chapter 40 [XXXV.]"Marriage Existed Before Sin Was
Committed. How God's Blessing Operated in Our First Parents. ...
/.../augustine/anti-pelagian writings/chapter 40 xxxv marriage existed before.htm

First Then, it is Absolutely and Undeniably Certain, that ...
... I. Proposition I. First then, it is absolutely and undeniably certain,
that Something must have existed from eternity. something ...
/.../i proposition i first then.htm

He Infers from what He Has Said that the virgin Mary Gave Birth to ...
... Book IV. Chapter II. He infers from what he has said that the Virgin Mary gave birth
to a Son who had pre-existed and was greater than she herself was. ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter ii he infers from.htm

Existed (18 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Existed (18 Occurrences). John 1:8 He was not the Light,
but he existed that he might give testimony concerning the Light. (WEY). ...
/e/existed.htm - 11k

Tools (3 Occurrences)
... are named. The following article aims to give a list of those mentioned, together
with those that must have existed also. For detailed ...
/t/tools.htm - 14k

Exist (24 Occurrences)
... material or spiritual. 2. (vi) To be manifest in any manner; to continue
to be; as, great evils existed in his reign. 3. (vi) To ...
/e/exist.htm - 14k

Talmud
... An authority to do this must have existed; but the claim made by many that after
the days of Ezra there existed a college of 120 men called the "Great Synagogue ...
/t/talmud.htm - 37k

Totemism
... TOTEMISM. to'-tem-iz'-m: How far the belief in totems and totemistic relationships
existed in early Israel cannot be discussed at length here. ...
/t/totemism.htm - 11k

Persecution (22 Occurrences)
... 1. Persecution in Old Testament Times: It must not be thought that
persecution existed only in New Testament times. In the days ...
/p/persecution.htm - 47k

Eschatology
... newness of its spirit. In Judaism there existed at that time two distinct
types of eschatological outlook. There was the ancient ...
/e/eschatology.htm - 70k

Hellenism
... 1. The Expansion of the Greek Peoples: Before the coming of the Hellenic peoples
into what we now call Greece, there existed in those lands a flourishing ...
/h/hellenism.htm - 26k

Fever (13 Occurrences)
... effectual treatment. Other febrile diseases are rife in certain districts
in Palestine, and probably existed in Bible times. Typhoid ...
/f/fever.htm - 17k

Hellenist
... 1. The Expansion of the Greek Peoples: Before the coming of the Hellenic peoples
into what we now call Greece, there existed in those lands a flourishing ...
/h/hellenist.htm - 26k

What was God doing before He created the universe? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about the pre-existence of souls? | GotQuestions.org

Does the Bible mention the lost city of Atlantis? Is there any evidence for Atlantis? | GotQuestions.org

Existed: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus