Is Jesus A Created Being?
What does "Jesus, the firstborn of all creation" mean in Colossians 1:15?
Colossians 1:15 “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”
This verse may not be as well-known as others we have discussed in this series. It might not be underlined in many people's Bibles or memorized. However, it is a verse often cited by those who dispute the divinity of Jesus. If someone were to present this verse to you and ask for an explanation, how would you interpret it? What does it imply when it refers to Jesus as the "firstborn of all creation?" Does it suggest that God first created Jesus, and then everything else? Does this verse suggest that Jesus is a lesser god, created by God to fulfill His purpose in the world?
How is the Verse Interpreted?
If a poll were conducted in a church asking how many people interpret Col. 1:15 to mean that 'Jesus was the first creation of God, and everything else was created afterward,' I believe the majority would agree (which is disappointing as well as scary!) because such an interpretation seems straightforward at first glance.
Throughout church history, there have been instances of this verse being misunderstood. For example, in the third century, a man named Arius interpreted this verse to mean that Jesus was a created entity. He proposed that there was a time when Jesus did not exist, and at a certain point, God created Jesus. Although this Jesus was divine and holy, he was considered inferior to God. The church declared Arius's teachings as heretical, but his teachings persisted.
Even today, various groups, including Jehovah's Witnesses, hold the belief that Jesus was a created being, using Colossians 1:15 to support their views. They believe that Jesus was merely the first angel created, the Archangel Michael, who was sent from heaven to earth and became Jesus, a temporary and solely human entity.
While on earth, Jesus may have been human, but according to Jehovah’s Witnesses, his human form was entirely obliterated upon his death. They believe he was resurrected as an “immortal spirit” who returned to heaven to reassume the role of the Archangel Michael. Moreover, they teach that it was through this created angel that God, or Jehovah, brought everything else in the universe into existence. In their doctrine, Jesus might be considered a ‘lesser god,’ but he is not on par with the almighty God or Jehovah himself. They assert that Jesus was indeed a created being, long before he took human form.
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What is the Meaning of this Verse?
As previously mentioned, Jehovah’s Witnesses and others interpret the Apostle Paul’s words to mean that Christ was a created entity. However, while the term ‘firstborn’ typically refers to the first child born into a family, that is not the interpretation in this context, which will become apparent when we examine the verse in more detail. It is crucial to understand that ‘firstborn’ can also have a different connotation in the Bible. It can be used in a unique sense to denote the concept of status, hierarchy, or importance. Let me provide a few examples:
Psalms 89:27 states, “I also shall make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth.” This verse is part of the section where Yahweh is establishing His covenant with David. From the biblical narratives about David, it is evident that he was not the eldest in his family; in fact, he was the youngest among his brothers. This illustrates that the term “firstborn” can be used metaphorically. Moreover, the term “firstborn” is accompanied by the phrase, “the highest of the kings of the earth.” This suggests that in the context of Psalm 89, being designated as “firstborn” by God implies being elevated to the highest position.
This concept also applies to the nation of Israel. Clearly, Israel was not the first nation to exist on earth, as many generations had lived before God established it. However, in Exodus 4:22, we see that God instructed Moses to tell Pharaoh, the King of Egypt, that “Israel is My son, My firstborn.” So, what does this imply? How can Israel be considered the ‘firstborn’ when numerous nations preceded them? The interpretation here is that Israel was accorded a special status as the chosen people of God, destined to inherit the Promised Land, thereby becoming ‘heirs.’
The same principle of preeminence and status also applied to Jacob and Esau. Despite Esau being the firstborn, the promised inheritance was bestowed upon his younger brother Jacob, who was thus designated as 'the firstborn.'
These examples illustrate that it is not necessary to interpret Jesus as a created being simply because the term 'firstborn' is used in Col. 1:15. The term does not always refer to chronological order in the Bible. As I mentioned earlier, such an interpretation does not align with the context of the verse. In the initial part of the verse, Paul states that Jesus is the image of the invisible God, implying that He is not made in the image, but rather, He is the image itself. In other words, He is the embodiment of God. This concept is also echoed in Hebrews 1:3, which states, “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.”
Colossians 1:16-17 unequivocally states that Paul attributes the role of the creator to Jesus, who existed ‘before all things.’ The scripture says, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
If it is true that ‘all things in heaven and earth’ were created by Jesus, then it is illogical to suggest that Jesus himself was a created entity. Moreover, Paul’s assertion that Jesus was ‘before all things’ implies that Jesus existed prior to creation, signifying His eternal existence. This context directly contradicts the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ interpretation that Jesus was a created being. Instead, Paul contends that Jesus is the God who created all things, and that all creation was brought into existence through Him, for Him, and is maintained by Him. To support their claim that Jesus was created first and then all other things were created through him, Jehovah’s Witnesses have inserted the word ‘other’ in Colossians 1:15-17 in their New World Translation. However, the word ‘other’ does not exist in the original Greek text nor is implied by the context.
This highlights the significance of studying the Bible in its context, as neglecting to do so can lead us to various misconceptions. Just as a photographer knows that incorrect camera settings can result in a distorted or unclear image, the same can happen when interpreting the Bible without considering the context or disregarding its teachings elsewhere.
How do we Apply this Verse in our Lives?
Our study reveals that this verse signifies Jesus as the embodiment of the unseen God, holding supremacy over all entities. Paul's message to every Christian and every individual is the preeminence of Jesus Christ. He is superior in His physical creation—the cosmos, and His spiritual creation—the Church.
This interpretation has a significant implication for our lives. Is He the priority in your thoughts? Does He dominate your speech? Is He the focus of your time management? Does He control your financial decisions? Is He the center of all aspects of your life? If not, then God, through this verse, is urging you today to assign Jesus the highest priority in all areas of your life.
May God help us all to keep Jesus the highest priority of our lives.