Eusebius’ Three OT Comings of Jesus

Ever wonder why Jesus’ birth and earthly life is never called his “first coming” in Scripture?

 

Because it wasn’t.

 

Eusebius, a 4th-century Christian leader and writer who is often called “the father of Church history,” cited three Old Testament comings of Christ, Whom he refers to as the “second Lord after the Father” (referencing Psa. 110:1-4; Gen. 19:24).

 

Genesis 18:1f: Eusebius writes: “Thus the Lord God is said to have appeared as an ordinary man to Abraham as he sat by the oak of Mamre, yet he worshiped him as God, saying, ‘O Lord, judge of all the world, will you not do justice?’ [Gen. 18:25]. Since reason would never permit that the immutable essence of the Almighty be changed into human form . . . who else could be so described as appearing in human form but the preexistent Word [Jesus], since naming the First Cause of the universe [God the Father] would be inappropriate?”

 

Genesis 32:30:  Eusebius writes: “Then too: ‘Jacob called the name of that place ‘the Vision of God,’ saying, ‘For I saw God face-to-face, and my life was spared.”

 

Joshua 5:13-15: Eusebius writes: “Joshua too saw him only in human form.”

 

Eusebius puts down any attempt to diminish these comings with this argument: “to suppose that these recorded theophanies were appearances of subordinate angels and ministers of God cannot be correct, for whenever these appear to people, Scripture distinctly declares in countless passages that they are called angels, not God or Lord”

 

In conclusion, Eusebius emphatically clarifies his position: “But clearly they knew the Christ of God, since he appeared to Abraham . . . spoke to Israel [Jacob], and conversed with Moses and the later prophets as I have shown.”

 

And there are many more comings of Jesus throughout both the OT and NT and even more promises for more comings.

 

Now you know why BOTH “first coming” and “second coming” language is never used in Scripture and why we shouldn’t use it either.

 

What do you think?

 

(Excerpted from my new book, “Unraveling the End: A balanced biblical synthesis of four competing and conflicting end-time views.”