Christians existed prior to the birth of Christ?

Question

Where does this belief come from? Do the Christians that believe this understand that this is an impossibility?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AtUWEeInzK0duzAOnYm2.3Td7BR.;_ylv=3?qid=20071119113513AA0qAba

Answer 1

not christians in the sense that came out of antioch. look at it this way, as we are looking behind us at the death and resurrection of Christ, they were looking forward to it for their redemption, the righteous branch unto david. so whoever back then put their faith in the coming salvation, they were then what we would today call christians.

Answer 2

Im sure its very possible!!!! they just wouldnt have called themselves "Christians" until their "Christ" came. the Truth of Christ has existed since time began and its Knowledge is implanted in each of us at the very core of our being, hidden beneath our whole being. it is the idea that there is one God and that the Word of God (of which Christ is a physical representation) has existed as long as manifestation has. First there was the Word. these people worshiped Love and always have as the only way to truly know God. It wasnt until Christ came that these people had a rallying point and started a "religion" (which i might say has veered off the original path from time to time...)

the better question to ask is "did Christ exist before he came into our physical manifestation?" and "did He do work through us before we knew of Him?"

i cant speak to the beliefs of the greater Christian community, as i often am not included with them by their own choice, but i can only speak from my personal understanding. of course i can say nothing for certain, but i do find myself when trying to answer this question, instinctively asking "is there a reason why not?" and "how might it be this way?". neither of which have a finite answer in either direction.

BB

Answer 3

Christians before Christians, yes, but not as followers of Christ but "watchers" for the Christ to come. The belief preceded him soon after the occupation of the Romans. The Romans took over many of the larger middle eastern cities of that time. Ruled it by their laws, but when it came to religious beliefs they let that be up to those who wished to believe in their beliefs. They were not made to follow Roman beliefs. To deliver them from the occupation and rule of a people that were taking over their country - the old story from the Torah - that a Christ (deliverer) would come to smite those that oppress them and make them free. The Christ of the old teachings was little more than just a mighty warrior but would do the miracles prophesied and would allow them to be free from oppression and that he would come from God himself.
Not too different from a cult style teaching similar to those of today. When a gentle man came and all the astronomical signs came into play as well as the teachings of the prophecies seemed similar, that is when they believed that the Christ had arrived, many were dissappointed because he was born not just put on this earth as a grown man. Many left the belief because he was born and thought it was a false prophecy. As he grew and learned he was able to influence those around him. At first they did not want to believe he was the Christ because he didn't smite the Romans and renew the world in one magical swoop. His teachings of peace that laid along the lines of Taoism, Budhism, and the old teachings of the Torah, made him look weak until he started to preform "miracles" in their eyes.
So, really and truthfully, the Christ belief was a cult out of need then by "soothsayers" that were considered the Law givers and protectors of the word of God who these people looked to for guidance and help in their religious practices to appease God and to have Him help them. It only takes one very good manipulator and charismatic person to get a group of people to follow, then when what he says comes to fruition somewhat then they are desperate to believe what they have been told. Because, out of desperation and depression, anyone is ready to believe anything as long as it is going to make them feel better or give them hope.

Answer 4

I believe it. Many people could have been living a life under God that was Christ-like in behavior, but didn't have a name yet. When Jesus came along, he tied it all together and gave it substance with his teachings, in a way expanded on what people were already doing and gave it structure.

Christians today are not like Christians were 2000 years ago. Does that make them any less Christian. I would say no. Because Jesus said "Don't be like me. Be like me and more. Take what I have taught you and add your own knowledge and experience to it." That's why I consider the Holy Bible to be a living document, more of a guideline as to how we should live, rather than a frozen in time, word for word doctrine. That is why God gave us free will, so that we grow as humans and learn on our own how to be closer to Him.

Answer 5

Christ simply is the Greek word for Messiah. There were many people who tried to be or were thought to be the Messiah around Jesus' time, John the Baptist was one and he is still thought to be by some sects.

Edit:
The point is that other groups could have been called Christian even if that term now exclusively refers to followers of Jesus.

Edit 2:
The answers to that question you referenced are totally scary.
My answer was given a possibility but to consider Adam and Eve as Christians is like saying that Jesus was Nordic.

Answer 6

Greetings and Merry Meet!
It is So nice to see some answer by qouting scripture. BRAVO on your memory retention. Proves the programming from the "Christian" viewpoint.
Try an answer from the heart where the Divine radiates;
"Christians" no, Humans, yes. Of course there is the popular calander used to track dates and time, created by the same self chosen "Spiritual Leadership" that re wrote the "Bible" [not to mention history itself] to achieve their goal of dominance.
The original "belief" system had good intent but the intentions of some, driven by greed, lust and power, created "Doctrine" with judgement and dogma as by-products.

Prior to this alteration, human kind had Pagans, Druids and other "Native" Ceremony and Ritual methods of Honoring our connection to the "ALL". Aware of this connection yet not "understanding", humans ACCEPTED this connection and lived in Faith based harmony, until the "Christian" crusades. We all know how that went [and continues] however what is NOT common knowledge is the fact that MOST of the Ceremony and Ritual "Christians" pratice has its roots in the "Old ways" of Paganism, some even stolen and re-"branded" in the name of "God". Easter, Christmas just a couple examples.
Over the centuries human kind has been told by the self chosen leaders we are not worthy unless we follow their "direction".
Remember it is human kind that is unforgiving and intolerant in judgement. Human kind that places conditions and limits on our personal connection to ALL.
The Divine All is forgiving and compassionate in judgement and accepting of ALL, no matter who or what.
Not impossible for them to understand, more improbable, again due to Doctrine, Dogma and Judgement.

NAMASTE' and BLESSED BE!
~BLESSINGS~DIVINE LOVE~HEALING LIGHT TO ALL~

Answer 7

The Christians that believe this are people who say that there were people who believed that Jesus was coming and that they would have followed Jesus had he been around. This is done by taking OT writings and using them to prove that Jesus was predicted to come. However, they forget that the NT writers had all those texts and made references to them to justify their belief that Jesus was the Savior of the Jewish people.

Fortunately, I am a Christian who understands that you can't change the Bible to fit what you believe. It bothers me that there are people out there who will make the Bible say what it wants them to say.

Answer 8

Galatians 4:4 yet while the fulness of the time became come, God despatched forth his Son, made up of a girl, made below the regulation, 5 To redeem them that have been below the regulation, that we would acquire the adoption of sons. John a million:a million interior the initiating became the word(trademarks-concept concept expression) and the word became with GOD( as your trademarks is with you in the previous you talk it and is an factor to you) and the word became GOD(no longer god the son, GOD). John a million:14 and the word (GOD,no longer god the son) grew to alter into flesh. JESUS became no longer named till AFTER HE became born and it became the call the Angel informed Mary HE would be pronounced as.

Answer 9

You right technically speaking there were no Christians before Christ. To be called a Christan you have to follow Christ so since technically before Christ no one knew him that means no one could follow him so no they weren't Christan's. Biblically speaking they did follow a God but they were not called Christians at the time before Christ.

Answer 10

The Christ concept was derived from OT exegesis rather than historical events. If there was a historical Jesus, which seems doubtful, he took advantage of pre-existing theology rather than creating it.