2nd–3rd centuries

Spirit, Angel, Logos, Son: pre-Nicene designations of the divine in Christ and the Logos christology of the Apologists

The Apostolic Fathers, according to Berkhof and González, unanimously speak of the preexistence, divinity and humanity of Christ, but are not aware of the problems that arise from this. Pelikan traces the succession of designations for the divine in Christ: "Spirit" (Hermas: the preexistent Holy Spirit was made to dwell in flesh), "angel" (Justin, Hermas), then "Logos" and "Son of God". Justin used the Greek concept of the Logos: the Word acts in the world, creates and enlightens sages such as Socrates and Abraham (the "seeds of the Word"), and in Jesus Christ took flesh. Theophilus explicitly distinguishes the inner Logos from the Logos uttered at creation. The doctrine of the Logos lent respectability to the title "Son of God", which came to refer to the preexistent Christ.