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The Catechism in Questions & Answers
- Introduction
- Contents
- 51. Who is the triune God?
- 52. What characteristics of God do we know?
- 53. What does it mean when we say: “God is the One God”?
- 54. What does it mean to say: “God is the Holy One”?
- 55. What does it mean when we say: “God is the Almighty”?
- 56. What does it mean to say: “God is the Eternal”?
- 57. What does it mean when we say: “God is the Loving One”?
- 58. What does it mean when we say: “God is the Gracious One”?
- 59. What does it mean to say that “God is the Righteous One”?
- 60. What does it mean to say: “God is the Perfect One”?
- 61. What does it mean when we talk about the “triune God”?
- 62. Why do Christians believe that God is triune?
- 63. What references to the triune God are there in the Old Testament?
- 64. What references to the trinity of God are recorded in the New Testament?
- 65. When was the doctrine of the trinity of God formulated?
- 66. What is the relationship of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit to one another?
- 67. What does the term “Father” mean when it is used in relationship to God?
- 68. What do we know about God as the Creator?
- 69. What does the creation tell us about God?
- 70. In what span of time did God create the world?
- 71. What does the Bible relate about God’s creation?
- 72. Does the creation of God only consist of that which human beings can grasp with their senses?
- 73. What belongs to the invisible creation?
- 74. Is the Devil part of the invisible creation?
- 75. What are angels?
- 76. What is the task of the angels?
- 77. Should angels be worshipped?
- 78. Why should human beings concern themselves with the invisible?
- 79. How should human beings concern themselves with the invisible?
- 80. What is the position of man in the creation?
- 81. What does it mean to be created in the image of God?
- 82. Are man and woman both created equally in the image of God?
- 83. Does being “in the image of God” mean that God and man have the same nature and the same form?
- 84. What is the relationship between man and His Creator?
- 85. What task does man have in the visible creation?
- 86. How are human beings, as the image of God, to conduct themselves within the creation?
- 87. Were the first human beings allowed to do as they pleased without restriction?
- 88. How did the fall into sin come about?
- 89. What is associated with the fall into sin?
- 90. Do human beings have to remain in spiritual death?
- 91. What does it mean to say that God created human beings as an entity consisting of spirit, soul, and body?
- 92. What happens after a human being’s physical death?
- 93. Who is God, the Son?
- 94. Who is Jesus Christ?
- 95. What references to the birth of Jesus are there in the Old Testament?
- 96. Who prepared the way for Jesus?
- 97. How did John the Baptist describe Jesus Christ?
- 98. What does the term “Lamb of God” mean here?
- 99. What is the significance of Jesus’ sacrificial death for us?
- 100. What does it mean when it says that Jesus Christ is God’s “only begotten Son”?
- 101. How is it to be understood that the Son of God is described as the “Word” (“logos”)?
- 102. What does it mean when John says: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...”?
- 103. As a Man, was Jesus Christ the same as other human beings?
- 104. While on earth was Jesus exclusively a Man?
- 105. What passages in Holy Scripture attest that Jesus Christ is also always true God?
- 106. Which of His deeds show that Jesus Christ is true God?
- 107. What does the name “Jesus” mean?
- 108. How can we recognise that Jesus Christ is the Redeemer?
- 109. Is redemption only possible through Jesus Christ?
- 110. What is meant by the term 'majestic titles' of Jesus?
- 111. What is meant by the majestic title of “Christ”?
- 112. What does the majestic title “Messiah” mean?
- 113. What does the majestic title “Lord” signify?
- 114. What does the majestic title “Son of Man” mean?
- 115. Are there any other majestic titles of Jesus?
- 116. In what way did Jesus Christ fulfil His divine commission?
- 117. What does it mean when we refer to “Jesus Christ—the King”?
- 118. What does it mean when we refer to “Jesus Christ—the Priest”?
- 119. What does it mean when we refer to “Jesus Christ—the Prophet”?
- 120. Where do we read of the person and activity of Jesus Christ?
- 121. How did the Son of God enter into His human existence?
- 122. What events preceded the birth of Jesus?
- 123. Who were Jesus’ parents?
- 124. What do we know about the birth of Jesus?
- 125. What occurred at the same time as the birth of Jesus?
- 126. What occurred after the birth of Jesus?
- 127. How did God protect the Child Jesus?
- 128. What is known about Jesus’ childhood?
- 129. What preceded Jesus’ teaching activity?
- 130. Why did Jesus allow Himself to be baptised by John?
- 131. What transpired after the baptism of Jesus?
- 132. What is the significance of Jesus’ temptations?
- 133. At what age did Jesus begin to teach?
- 134. What was the focus of Jesus’ teaching?
- 135. What is meant by the “kingdom of God”?
- 136. What does it mean to “repent”?
- 137. What does the term “gospel” mean?
- 138. What is Jesus’ position on the Law of Moses?
- 139. What was one of the first things Jesus did at the beginning of His teaching activity?
- 140. What miracles did Jesus perform?
- 141. Why did Jesus perform miracles?
- 142. What healings of the sick do the gospels relate?
- 143. What is related about Jesus casting out evil spirits?
- 144. Of what miracles of raising the dead do the gospels relate?
- 145. Of what miracles of nature do the gospels relate?
- 146. Of which miracles of feeding do the gospels relate?
- 147. Of what gift miracles do the gospels relate?
- 148. How did Jesus teach the people His doctrine?
- 149. What is meant by the “beatitudes” of Jesus?
- 150. How did Jesus make the gospel understandable?
- 151. What major statements of the gospel are illustrated in parables?
- 152. How did Jesus explain the beginning and the growth of the kingdom of God?
- 153. How did Jesus explain that something extremely valuable is offered in the kingdom of God?
- 154. How did Jesus explain the love that prevails in the kingdom of God?
- 155. Which parable calls for us to love our neighbour?
- 156. What are the parables that relate to the attitude of man’s heart?
- 157. What did Jesus reveal in the parables of the coming of the Son of Man?
- 158. What images did Jesus use to describe Himself, and what do they mean?
- 159. Which of the disciples were especially close to Jesus?
- 160. What marked the start of the sufferings of Jesus Christ?
- 161. What events followed Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem?
- 162. Who betrayed Jesus Christ?
- 163. How did Jesus institute Holy Communion?
- 164. What happened in the Garden of Gethsemane?
- 165. How did the arrest of Jesus occur?
- 166. How did the Apostles behave?
- 167. Did Jesus later reproach the Apostles for their behaviour?
- 168. What happened after Jesus’ arrest?
- 169. What did Judas Iscariot do after Jesus’ sentencing?
- 170. How did Jesus fare before Pilate and Herod?
- 171. How did Jesus conduct Himself in His sufferings?
- 172. Where did Jesus’ suffering end?
- 173. Who is to blame for the death of Jesus?
- 174. What were the last words of Jesus on the cross?
- 175. What events accompanied the crucifixion of the Lord?
- 176. What happened to the body of Jesus?
- 177. To what purpose did Jesus have to suffer and die?
- 178. What significance does the suffering and death of Jesus thus hold for mankind?
- 179. Does the Old Testament make reference to the suffering and death of Jesus Christ?
- 180. Did Jesus Himself give make any reference to His suffering and death?
- 181. What do the letters of the Apostles have to say about the sacrificial death of Jesus?
- 182. What does the cross signify?
- 183. What happened after Jesus died?
- 184. By what power did Jesus Christ resurrect?
- 185. Are there any witnesses to the resurrection of Christ?
- 186. What significance does the resurrection of Christ hold for mankind?
- 187. What appearances of the Risen One are attested in the New Testament?
- 188. How did the chief priests behave after the resurrection of Jesus?
- 189. What is the resurrection body of Christ?
- 190. What happened at the ascension of Jesus Christ?
- 191. Where did Jesus Christ go when He ascended into heaven?
- 192. What does it mean to say that “Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God?”
- 193. Is Jesus Christ also present on the earth now that He has ascended?
- 194. What did Jesus mean when He said: “I will come again”?
- 195. How else is the return of Jesus Christ described?
- 196. What references to the return of Christ do we find in the New Testament?
- 197. Who is the Holy Spirit?
- 198. How does the Holy Spirit show Himself as a divine person?
- 199. By what other names is the Holy Spirit also known?
- 200. What does it mean to say that “the Holy Spirit is a Comforter and Helper”?
- 201. What does it mean to say that “the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth”?
- 202. What does it mean to say that “the Holy Spirit is the power from on high”?
- 203. How can we recognise the activity of the Holy Spirit?
- 204. What is the gift of the Holy Spirit?
- 205. How does one receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?
- 206. Is the Holy Spirit mentioned in the Old Testament?
- 207. Was the Holy Spirit also active in the time of the Old Testament?
- 208. Was the Holy Spirit also given as a gift in the time of the Old Testament?
- 209. When were the promises concerning the outpouring of the Holy Spirit fulfilled?
- 210. How did the outpouring of the Holy Spirit occur?
- 211. Was the Holy Spirit still active after the time of the early Apostles?
- 212. Where is the Holy Spirit active today?
- 213. Is the Holy Spirit active in the sacraments?
- 214. What is the connection between the activity of the Holy Spirit and the Apostle ministry?
100. What does it mean when it says that Jesus Christ is God’s “only begotten Son”?
The designation of Jesus as God’s “only begotten Son” means that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is unique and eternal. The Son of God is not part of the creation like mankind, nor can He be compared to the angels, who have a beginning. He is without beginning and without end. He is God, and thus of the same essence as the Father and the Holy Spirit. Thus He has always been—that is, even before all creation—in fellowship with the Father and the Holy Spirit (pre-existence).
The term ‘pre-existence’ is derived from the Latin words prae and existentia, which mean “before” and “existence”, respectively. In relation to Jesus Christ, pre-existence means that the Son of God is from eternity, which means that He has always existed, even before the creation and His incarnation.