Posted by Cygnus [Cygnus] on November 01, 1999 at 17:47:40 {2gTL9dbN6kKL7zxXW/42L4bdfUTIaI}:
In Reply to: Heavens were opened posted by bibleman on November 01, 1999 at 17:00:51:
I don't think the author of "Matthew" intended to portray Christ as remembering any prehuman existence, or even having any prehuman existence. In fact, Mark and Luke don't mention any prehuman existence either. And several "proof passages" in John could be understood without demanding a prehuman existence.
So if Jesus didn't exist before his human conception and birth, then of course there is no memory to be restored.
JWs, to the best of my knowledge, are rather unique in teaching that Jesus was "anointed" as Christ upon his baptism. Before then, apparently he was just a regular Joe, and not the Christ (in apparent opposition to what Matthew and Luke believed -- see for example Matt 1:21 and Luke 2:11). Perhaps someone else has more to offer on that subject.