Greetings Brethren,

One of the main verses used to support the idea Christ was created is Colossians 1:15. This verse states "He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." The argument is that if Christ is the "firstborn" then He must have been born or have an origin point. The word for firstborn is prototokos. The word is formed from two words: protos meaning "first," and tikto meaning "bear, bring forth, preeminent." This word can be used to signify birth order (see Matthew 1:25; Luke 2:7). This makes sense since Christ is called the "firstborn among many brethren" in Romans 8:29. Prototokos can also signify preeminence or supremacy. Verse 16 tells us that ALL things were created through Him and for Him. If all things were made by Him, does this mean Christ created Himself? Obviously, one cannot create oneself.

 Adding even more emphasis, Paul says in verse 17 that "He is before all things and in Him all things consist." The Being that would become Christ existed before all things and through Him everything that was created came into existence. Considering these statements, the "firstborn" mentioned in this verse cannot have the meaning of "a coming into existence," but instead that Christ is superior to the creation.

Another verse used to support this heresy is Revelation 3:14: "And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God." The focus is on the phrase "the Beginning of Creation." Based on this verse, some commentators contend that Christ was the first thing the Father created. In conjunction with the argument in Colossians, it is stated then that after Christ was created, the Father then made the rest of creation through Christ.

This interpretation takes a very narrow view of the word translated "beginning." In the Greek this word is arche (746 in Strong's Concordance). This Greek word is also used to indicate authority or rulership. Here are just nine verses out of 58 times the word is used--Luke 12:11; 20:20; 1 Corinthians 15:24; Ephesians 1:21; 3:10; 6:12; Colossians 2:10; 2:15 and Titus 3:1. The Louw Nida Greek-English lexicon states with regard to Revelation 3:14, "It is also possible to understand arhi in Re 3:14 as meaning 'ruler.'" The New Strong's Dictionary of Bible Words states, "a commencement, or chief (in various applications of order, time, place or rank)."

Translations other than the New King James or King James render this word as ruler, chief, head (NIV, YLT, NHEB, WEB respectively). This would fit with what is clearly stated in Galatians, Colossians and other verses that God the Father raised Christ from the dead (Romans 8:11) and God then gave His firstborn Son authority over the entire creation of God (Philippians 2:9).

 So, while it appears that God was conveying the primacy and authority of Christ, the meaning of beginning could also apply. We know that Christ was the first man to be raised into the family of God (Romans 8:29). When the Father raised Christ from the dead, Christ was the first to see fulfillment of God's plan to change us into a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17). As the firstborn from the dead (Revelation 1:5) He is the beginning or firstborn of God's spiritual family. We can see that Christ is not included within the designation of that which was created. To hold that belief from this verse alone would contradict what is clearly stated in other verses such as Hebrews 7:1-3 which states that Christ has always existed. He is uncreated and co-eternal with the Father. The Father created all things through Christ (Hebrews 1:1-2).

Those two verses are the most commonly used to support Christ being created. In addition to the interpretation of these verses being incorrect, there is a long list of verses in direct opposition to this teaching. Over the course of the coming week, lets compile a list of verses that prove Christ was not created and next week we will look at a few of these with brief explanations.

Happy Sabbath!

Devin Schulz