The Mysterious Early Presence of Jesus in the Bible

Many readers often wonder what book in the Bible Jesus first appears in. The initial response is often that He is mentioned in the New Testament, specifically in the book of Matthew. However, a deeper dive into the text reveals intriguing suggestions that His presence might be much earlier. This article explores the intriguing question: In which book does Jesus first appear in the Bible?

A common belief, propagated by some respondents like Paul Blase and Barbara LeMaster, is that Jesus is mentioned in the Old Testament. This belief needs clarification and verification through a careful analysis of the text.

Genesis: The Origin of Humanity

Genesis, the first book in the Bible, does not contain a direct mention of Jesus. However, it provides the fundamental context for understanding the divine creation, including the idea of humans being in God's image. Genesis 1:26–27 states:

Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creature that moves along the ground.’ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

This passage indicates that human beings, created in God's image, have a unique relationship with God and the world, but it does not specifically mention Jesus.

The First Mention of Jesus in the Bible

According to the common scholarly understanding:

Matt 1:1: “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.” Matt 1:16: “Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus who is called Christ.”

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Ancient Interpretations: Concubine-Melchizedek

There are some less conventional theories that suggest Jesus' presence in the Bible might be earlier, even before the New Testament. For instance, one theory proposes that Jesus first appeared as a concubine-Melchizedek in the Book of Judges. This theory is based on a detailed analysis of various biblical texts, including Judges 19-21 and Isaiah 53.

The story in Judges 19-21 tells of a tragic incident where Jesus, described as a concubine, was raped and murdered by the Benjamites. The Benjamites were described as sons of Belial, the demon. This incident led to a massive backlash, with 40,000 warriors from the Judah tribe avenging the death of the concubine.

"The text only tells us that Judah Tribe went up against the Benjamites first. This was a 10 tithe to concubine-Melchizedek."

Further theological analysis suggests that Isaiah 53 (The Servant Songs) had to be fulfilled from both a male and female perspective. If the High Priest in heaven was to truly experience the pain and suffering of women throughout history, then Jesus would need to have experienced it firsthand as a woman before His incarnation.

Ancient Texts and Their Significance

Understanding this interpretation requires a dive into ancient texts and writings, such as:

Hebrew manuscripts Dead Sea Scrolls Ancient commentaries and commentaries on the Bible

These texts provide additional insights into the divine nature of Jesus, His role as a concubine, and the fulfillment of prophetic texts like Isaiah 53.

Conclusion

The earliest mention of Jesus in the Bible remains in Matthew, but the idea that He appeared earlier, before the New Testament, adds layers of complexity to our understanding of Christian history. Whether through a concubine-Melchizedek or in other ancient texts, His presence seems to have been paradoxically linked to tragedy and righteousness.

While these theories remain contentious within the Christian community, they offer a fascinating perspective on the theological and historical milieu of early Christianity. Further research and scholarly discussion will likely continue to explore and verify these claims.

Keywords: Jesus first mention in Bible, Melchizedek, Concubine, Apocalypse