As someone who once sat under the teachings of Shepherd’s Chapel, I know firsthand the pull of their distinctive take on Scripture. For years, I tuned into Arnold Murray’s broadcasts, captivated by his confident delivery and the promise of “deeper truths” hidden in the Bible. His explanation of being “born from above” in John 3, tied to a doctrine of pre-existence, felt like a revelation at first—it gave me a sense of cosmic purpose, like I was part of a grand, ancient narrative. But as I wrestled with the Scriptures and the Gospel’s core message, I began to see how this teaching strayed from biblical truth and muddied the beauty of salvation through Christ alone. This is my journey of moving away from Shepherd’s Chapel’s view and rediscovering the true meaning of John 3.
My Time with Shepherd’s Chapel: The Appeal of Pre-Existence
When I was a student of Shepherd’s Chapel, I was drawn to their teaching that being “born from above” in John 3:3 referred to souls entering physical bodies from a pre-existent spiritual state in a supposed “first earth age.” They taught that we existed with God before our earthly lives, pointing to verses like Job 38:7 (where the “sons of God” shout for joy at creation) and Revelation 12:4 (describing Satan’s fall) as evidence of our pre-existent souls. According to this view, our choices in that prior age shaped our destiny in this one, and being “born from above” was about transitioning from that spiritual existence into our current physical form.
This idea was exhilarating at first. It made me feel like I had a hidden backstory, a spiritual origin that explained my place in God’s plan. Murray’s emphasis on studying the Bible “chapter by chapter, verse by verse” gave me confidence that I was uncovering truths others overlooked. But as I dug deeper, doubts crept in. The more I studied John 3 and the Gospel as a whole, the more I saw that Shepherd’s Chapel’s teaching on pre-existence didn’t line up with Scripture—and worse, it distorted the message of salvation that had drawn me to Christ in the first place.
Revisiting John 3: The True Meaning of “Born from Above”
Let’s go back to the passage that started this journey. In John 3:1-15, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, visits Jesus at night, seeking answers. Jesus tells him, “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3, NKJV). When Nicodemus asks if this means re-entering his mother’s womb, Jesus explains, “Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:5-6).
The Greek word for “again,” anothen, also means “from above,” and the context makes it clear that Jesus is talking about a spiritual rebirth initiated by God. This isn’t about a soul’s journey from a pre-existent state but about the Holy Spirit’s transformative work in a person’s life, enabling them to enter God’s kingdom through faith. As a former Shepherd’s Chapel student, I remember how they emphasized anothen as proof of pre-existence, but studying the passage myself showed me that Jesus was pointing to a new spiritual life, not a prior one. The focus is on what God does in us now, not what we supposedly did before we were born.
For me, this realization was a turning point. John 3 became a passage about hope—about God’s grace making us new through faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). It’s not about where I came from but about where I’m going: into God’s kingdom through trust in Jesus’ sacrifice.
Why Shepherd’s Chapel’s Pre-Existence Doctrine Falls Short
As I stepped back from Shepherd’s Chapel’s teachings, I saw three major problems with their view of pre-existence and “born from above” that clashed with Scripture and the Gospel.
First, the Bible doesn’t teach that humans existed as conscious souls before their earthly birth. Shepherd’s Chapel leaned heavily on Job 38:7 and Revelation 12:4 to support their idea of a pre-existent “first earth age,” but these passages refer to angelic beings, not human souls. Job 38:7 describes the “sons of God” rejoicing at creation, a term often used for angels (Job 1:6, 2:1). Revelation 12:4 speaks of Satan’s rebellion, again involving angels, not humans. As I studied these verses, I realized they were being stretched to fit a narrative that Scripture doesn’t support. The Bible is silent on human souls existing before birth, and forcing this idea into John 3 felt like eisegesis—reading something into the text that isn’t there.
Second, the pre-existence doctrine undermines the uniqueness of Christ’s identity. Scripture teaches that Jesus alone pre-existed as the eternal Son of God (John 1:1, 8:58, 17:5). He is the one who came “from above” in a unique way (John 3:31). When I was with Shepherd’s Chapel, I didn’t see how their teaching that all souls pre-existed diminished Christ’s singular glory. If everyone was “from above” in the same way, what makes Jesus’ incarnation special? Realizing this helped me appreciate the Gospel’s focus on Christ as the only mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5).
Third, and most troubling, the pre-existence doctrine distorts the Gospel’s message of salvation by grace through faith. Shepherd’s Chapel teaches that choices made in the pre-existent age affect our destiny, with some souls predestined for salvation and others given “free will” to choose God or Satan in this life. This introduces a works-based element that I couldn’t reconcile with Scripture. The Bible is clear: salvation comes through faith in Christ’s finished work, not through mysterious pre-birth decisions (Ephesians 2:8-9). As a former student, I felt betrayed by this teaching—it shifted my focus from Christ’s cross to an unverifiable past, making salvation feel uncertain and dependent on something I couldn’t remember.
Coming Back to the Gospel’s Clarity
Leaving Shepherd’s Chapel’s teachings wasn’t easy. Their community and study method had been a big part of my spiritual life, and letting go felt like losing a piece of myself. But as I returned to the plain meaning of Scripture, I found freedom in the Gospel’s simplicity. John 3 isn’t about a cosmic backstory or pre-existent choices—it’s about God’s love breaking into our lives through the Spirit, offering new life through faith in Jesus. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). That’s the heart of the message I’d missed while caught up in Shepherd’s Chapel’s complex doctrines.
To anyone still following Shepherd’s Chapel, I’d say this with love: test their teachings against Scripture. The Bible is our anchor, and the Gospel is too precious to be clouded by ideas that don’t hold up. Being “born from above” is about God’s grace transforming us now, not about a shadowy pre-existence. It’s about trusting Jesus, whose unique coming “from above” makes salvation possible for all who believe.