The Eternality of the Messiah:

How Old Is The Messiah?

The question comes up once in a while. Why do some people believe that the Messiah is eternal? Some base their answers only on Biblical texts such as the following found in the Bible: Both the Old Testament and the New Testament confirm the Messiah's eternal nature.

Old Testament References:

Whose going forth are from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2).
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made and by the breath of His mouth all their hosts (Psalm 33:6).

New Testament References:

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John1:1)
This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' (John 1:30) Note: John the Baptist was born before Jesus.

Why Is This So Important?

By examining Biblical texts we can see evidence as to not only the eternal nature of the Messiah but Messiah's divinity as well.

Other articles that help to support this position include:

Outside of Canonized Biblical Writings:

Outside of the Biblical texts that have been canonized there are more writings to show that other sources besides the Bible itself accept that the Messiah is of an eternal nature:

Talmudic Thought:

The concept of the preexistence of the Messiah accords with the general Talmudic view which holds that "The Holy One, blessed be He, prepares the remedy before the wound" (Babylonian Talmud, Meg. 13b).
It was taught: Seven things were created before the world was created, and these are they: the Tora, Repentance, the Garden of Eden, Gehenna, the Throne of Glory, the Temple, and the name of the Messiah... The name of the Messiah, as it is said: May his name endure forever, may his name blossom before the sun (Psa. 72:17).
Six things preceded the creation of the world - The Messiah was one of them. (Genesis Rabba 1:4)
"and the spirit of God hovered over the face of the water (Gen. 1:2) - in this the spirit of King Messiah, (Genesis Rabba 2:4)

(Babylonian Talmud, Pes. 54a; B. Ned. 39a)

The Book Of Enoch:

In the apocryphal First Book of Enoch, which was originally written in Hebrew or Aramaic about 150 B.C.E.

1 Enoch 46:1-3 - "Head of Days," an epithet alluding to his preexistence, prior to the creation of the world.
1 Enoch 48:4-6 - Before the creation of the world - for evermore.
1 Enoch 62:7-9 - From the beginning.

Miscellaneous:

The Messiah has been a part of Jewish Messianic eschatology since well before the birth of Jesus 2000 years ago.

Mashiach and the Messianic age were preconceived from the very beginning, for which the world was created.(1) Mashiach, therefore, is one of the things that precede the creation.(2)

Some rabbis insisted that the Messiah's name was identical with, or similar to, the name of the sage whose students they were (R. Shelah - Shiloh; R. Hanina - Hanina; R. Yannai - Yinnon).

Read more about The Messiah

Acknowledgments:

1). The Principle of Mashiach and the Messianic Era in Jewish Law and Tradition by Jacob Immanuel Schochet p. 34. In reference to Sanhedrin 98b; Pesikta Rabaty 34:6 (ed. Friedmann, ch33). See also Bereshit Rabba 2:4 and cf. R. Bachaya on Genesis 1:2 and Netzach Yisrael, ch 43.

2). The Principle of Mashiach and the Messianic Era in Jewish Law and Tradition by Jacob Immanuel Schochet p. 34 In reference to Pesachim 54a; Pirkei deR. Eliezer ch.3 (see there Bi'ur Haradal note 14); Bereishit Rabba 1:4 (and see there Minchat Yehudah). Cf. Yeshu'ot Meshicho, Iyun Hasheni: ch.3.

http://www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/70.htm

See also: Midrash: Breisheet I: Creation http://www.bibletopics.com/biblestudy/70a.htm

Source: "The Messiah Texts", by Raphael Patai (Avon Books, 1979)