“From the days of eternity”
Does the following quote mean that Christ had no beginning?:
From the days of eternity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father; He was “the image of God,” the image of His greatness and majesty, “the outshining of His glory.” It was to manifest this glory that He came to our world. DA 19.1 (1898)
Where else did Ellen used the phrase "from the days of eternity"?. Here it is in the same book:
He who had been promised to Israel, “whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin. DA 469.5
Notice the phrase "from of old" which seems to indicate a beginning. Here is how the KJV words it:
Micah 5:2 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.H5769
Here is Strong's Dictionary for the Hebrew word that was translated "everlasting" in the KJV:
H5769 וֹלָם ʻôwlâm, o-lawm'; or lolam {o-lawm'}; from H5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always
KJV Translation(s):--alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world (+ without end). Compare H5331, H5703.
Notice that this does not always mean that there is no beginning.
I was surprised to see "from the days of eternity" used a 3rd time in the same book:
The words, “Mine hour is not yet come,” point to the fact that every act of Christ's life on earth was in fulfillment of the plan that had existed from the days of eternity. Before He came to earth, the plan lay out before Him, perfect in all its details. But as He walked among men, He was guided, step by step, by the Father's will. He did not hesitate to act at the appointed time. With the same submission He waited until the time had come. DA 147.2
Notice above that there was a "plan that had existed from the days of eternity." It seems to me that when that "plan" was devised would have been at a particular time in eternity-past, before which that plan had not existed. Therefore the phase "from the days of eternity", as used in DA 147.2, actually had a beginning. I think it also interesting that, consistent with Strong's Concordance, some Bible translators used English words that indicated a definite beginning for Christ in Micah 5:2. Here are some:
… goings forth are from of old, from ancient days. (Jewish Pub. Society 1985)
… goings out are from of old, from ancient times... (World English Bible 2000)
... going out has been purposed from time past, from the eternal days. (BBE 1949)
... comings forth [are] of old, From the days of antiquity. (Young's Literal Trans. 1862)
... origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. (NLT 2008)
My Conclusion: The quote, "From the days of eternity the Lord Jesus Christ was one with the Father;" is not sufficient to claim that Jesus Christ has no beginning. -Sid Nash
“eternal Son of God”
Does the following quote mean that Christ had no beginning?:
“The Word existed as a divine being, even as the eternal Son of God, in union and oneness with His Father.” (Ev 615)
The above Ev 615 quote was quoting a portion of the RH paragraph below:
But while God's Word speaks of the humanity of Christ when upon this earth, it also speaks decidedly regarding his pre-existence. The Word existed as a divine being, even as the eternal Son of God, in union and oneness with his Father. From everlasting he was the Mediator of the covenant, the one in whom all nations of the earth, both Jews and Gentiles, if they accepted him, were to be blessed. “The Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Before men or angels were created, the Word was with God, and was God. RH April 5, 1906, par. 5
Regarding the above quote:
Notice the context of this quote is Christ's "pre-existence", referring to His life before His human birth.
Does "eternal" always mean "without beginning"? No, see definition below...
Does "from everlasting" always mean "without beginning"? No, because "the covenant" had a beginning. Therefore, "the Mediator" may also have had a beginning.
How long "Before men or angels were created" was "the Word with God"? Answer: "The same was in the beginning with God."(Jn1:2). So, this was "in the beginning"... of what?
Why didn't Ellen just say that "the Word" no beginning? That would have been a plain "Thus saith the Lord", but I've never seen her say that anywhere.
ETERNAL, a. [L. oeternus, composed of oevum and ternus, oeviternus, Varro. The origin of the last component part of the word is not obvious. It occurs in diuturnus, and seems to denote continuance.]
1. Without beginning or end of existence.
"The eternal God is thy refuge. Deuteronomy 33:27."
2. Without beginning of existence.
"To know whether there is any real being, whose duration has been eternal."
3. Without end of existence or duration; everlasting; endless; immortal.
"That they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 2 Timothy 2:10."
"What shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Matthew 19:16."
"Suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Jude 7."
4. Perpetual; ceaseless; continued without intermission.
"And fires eternal in thy temple shine."
5. Unchangeable; existing at all times without change; as eternal truth.
My Conclusion: The quote, "The Word existed as a divine being, even as the eternal Son of God, in union and oneness with His Father." is not sufficient to claim that Jesus Christ has no beginning. -Sid Nash
According to the inspired writings, Christ "came forth", was "brought forth", "came out from", "the firstbegotten", "the first-born of heaven", "the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father", the "beloved Son" of Father Jehovah. => http://sidnash.org/?CBS