"Have You Heard" Newspaper Articles Posted with the Permission of the Streetsboro Church of Christ.
That would make the Son not eternal and therefore not deity; however, the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus was eternal deity.
One of the passages misused is “Who [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:” (Colossians 1:15). They mistakenly argue being “firstborn” means Jesus was created first; however, the Greek term for firstborn (prototokos) reflects on Jesus superiority not chronology. Jesus, as deity, is superior to all the creation.
![For by him [Jesus] were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible](../../images/JesusCreation.jpg)
The next verse clearly
proves this: “For by him [Jesus] 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 [Jesus], and for him [Jesus]:” (Colossians
1:16). If all things were created by Christ and for Christ, then they have
Christ creating Himself. So this passage is obviously not teaching Christ was a
created being.
This view is also shown to be false in that both the Father and the Son are said to be eternal. First, the Father - “Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.” (Isaiah 44:6). Then, the Son - “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8,11; 21:6; 22:13). The apostle Paul wrote that Christ was deity, “For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9). Paul also stated plainly that Jesus was God, “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” (Titus 2:13).
In John 8:58, Jesus referred to Himself as “I AM” just as God had in Exodus 3:14. To claim “I AM” is equivalent to saying that He was deity just as the Father was deity. The unbelieving Jews clearly understood His claim because their reaction was to take up stones to throw at Him.
-- David R. Kenney, 03/09/2003 --
|
|