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HOUSMAIL HM072 24
March 2001 MADE BY JESUS? Question
asked - What about the verses that say all things were
made BY Jesus? e.g.
Ephesians 3:9 “And to make all
men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:” (KJV) Note -
the RSV and other modern versions omit the words “BY JESUS CHRIST”. They are not
in the revised Greek text from which these translations were made. So,
the RSV reads: “and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for
ages in God who created all things;” John
1:3, 10; KJV 3 All things were made by him; and without him was
not anything made that was made. Colossians
1:16-17 KJV 16 For by him were all things created, that are
in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones,
or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. I don't
often try to give Greek lessons! But this is one of those occasions when a little
Greek will help! I will try to keep it at a level which does not require anyone
to be a Greek “expert” and uses tools which are readily available to those who
speak only English! The
Greek word which is translated “BY” in these verses, is dia. The
actual meaning of this word is best resolved by looking at several modern translations,
most of which translate it as “through” instead of “by”. You
can do a little more homework for yourself, with an RSV Greek/English interlinear
text, and/or a Strong’s Concordance. In the
Greek this word is Strong's #1223, dia.- “Through” - Strong gives quite
a few ways in which dia is used of “place” and
“time” and “means”. In the context of the verses quoted, the most significant
of these is “the ground or reason by which something is or is not done”, “by reason
of”, “on account of”, “because of”, “for this reason”, “therefore”, “on this account”. In the
verses quoted above, the RSV Greek Interlinear renders “dia” as
"through." i.e. Jesus was
NOT the ACTIVE CREATOR. Instead, he was THE CHANNEL OR REASON
FOR THE ACT OF CREATION. In other
words, Jesus is the REASON WHY God acted, or created all things. This
is reinforced by other verses, from which we understand that Jesus could not have
been the active creator, because he was not present at the creation! He did not
come into existence as a person until 4000 years AFTER the creation. Amongst
the verses which indicate that Jesus had a beginning are: Psalm 2:7, and 2 Samuel 7:14. These OT prophecies about
Jesus are quoted in the NT, in Hebrews 1:5. "For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my
Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and
he shall be to me a Son?" The
words "this day have I begotten thee" tell us that the Son had a beginning. (a time when He was begotten). And
then the "future tense" of the next phrase --- "Will be,"
and "shall be," --- tell us that the Father-Son relationship
between God and Jesus, was to be FUTURE to the time when the promise was made
to David. Further
confirmation that the Creator is YAHWEH alone, and NOT Jesus, is found in other
Old Testament passages such as Isaiah 44:24; Isaiah 45:12,
18; Isaiah 51:13. It can be clearly demonstrated
from the OT, that YAHWEH always refers to God - the Father of Jesus – and never to Jesus Himself. God
was the ACTIVE CREATOR. Jesus was the REASON for Creation --- and when, by the
grace of God, we belong to Jesus --- so are we part of that reason! “God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him
the name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11) Bow before Jesus, and Praise God! Allon |