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Questions & Answers

Holy Book of Genesis

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › Holy Scripture › Holy Book of Genesis

The question

We the Coptic Church believe that the Son appeared to Abraham with two angels in human form. How is it then that the Son appears in human form before being born of the Virgin?

The answer

This was a pre-incarnation visit of grace by our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ the Logos is a member of the Holy Trinity and the Godhead even before the Incarnation. Thus, His appearance was as an angel but in the form of a man, yet without the restrictions of the flesh. Therefore, when His message and discussion with Abraham concluded, He did not continue to live out His life in the flesh, as did Jesus Christ after the Incarnation. There was no birth or death or any other description of a normal human life span, but His appearance was in the vessel of an angelic form that could conceal the invisible God.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 2044 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.