Colossians 1:16,17 and the Creator
Colossians 1:16
hoti en autw ektisthee ta panta en tois
BECAUSE IN HIM IT WAS CREATED THE ALL (THINGS) IN THE
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ouranois kai epi tees gees ta horata kai
HEAVENS AND UPON THE EARTH, THE (THINGS) VISIBLE AND
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ta aorata eite thronoi eite kurioteetes eite
THE (THINGS) INVISIBLE, WHETHER THRONES OR LORDSHIPS OR
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archai eite exousiai ta panta di autou
GOVERNMENTS OR AUTHORITIES; THE ALL (THINGS) THROUGH HIM
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kai eis auton ektistai
AND INTO HIM IT HAS BEEN CREATED;
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Westcott & Hort Interlinear
As obtained from The Bible Study Library DVD
http://biblestudylibrary.net/Colossians 1:16 - 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: -- King James Version
Colossians 1:16 - 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. -- New American Standard
Many read into this verse several things that are not there. It is thought by many that this verse shows that Jesus is the Creator, and thus God Almighty. On the surface, and with a preconceived philosophy in mind, it would appear to be so. But is this what Paul actually stated? Let us look more closely.
The word *panta* (as well as all the variations of the Greek *pas* -- Strong's Greek #3956) is used in connection with what is spoken of, thus all the things of which we are speaking. It does not necessarily mean absolutely everything that exists, else God himself would have to be included.
In Colossians 1:15 Paul plainly tells us that Jesus is the first to receive life from Yahweh as the firstborn, thus he was created before the "all" that is being referred to here, and thus would not be included in "all" of verse 16. An example of such an exception is given in 1 Corinthians 15:27.
See:
Did Jesus Have a Beginning?
http://godandson.reslight.addr/jesus-beginning.html"There went out to him all the country of Judea, and all those [Strong's 3956] of Jerusalem. They were baptized by him in the Jordan river, confessing their sins." (Mark 1:5) Does this mean that absolutely every person who lived in the country of Judea and in Jerusalem came to John and was baptized by him? Absolutely not.
"With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you *all* [Strong's 3956] things which are done here." -- Colossians 4:9.
And then we have the example of the usuage of *ta panta* in Hebrews 2:8, where Paul quotes Psalm 8 regarding mankind: "'You have put all things in subjection under his feet.' For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don't see all things subjected to him, yet." What are the "all things" -- ta panta: the all -- that was subjected to mankind? Psalm 8:7 answers: "All sheep and oxen, Yes, and the animals of the field, The birds of the sky, the fish of the sea, And whatever passes through the paths of the seas." (See Genesis 1:26,28) It is evident that pas is subject to inclusion or exclusion according the context and evidence.
Thus it would be understood that the reference is speaking of all the other things being spoken of. In many places qualifiers are added by translators which endeavor the identify what the word Pas is referring to. (See the KJV in Matthew 1:10; 12:31; 26:31,70; Mark 1:37; 7:14; 13:13; Luke 11:43; John 1:7; 2:24; 3:26; 5:23; 11:48; 12:32; 13:35; 15:2; Acts 1:24; 4:21; 21:28; many more could be cited) Thus some have suggested putting the word "other" as a qualifier of the Greek word panta so that is would read "by means of him all other things were created." As controversial as this seems, in view of the context, such a qualifier would be appropriate.
Yahweh, the God and Father of Jesus spoken of as the One doing the actions in Colossians 1:1-10, *through* Jesus created all things (spoken of in context); thus it is said that in him all [the] things were created -- the things being spoken of, which of, course, would not include Jesus himself; as he was given life as the firstborn earlier than "the all created" being spoken of.
Paul continues in verse 16 with the same line of thought as he had begun as shown in Colossians 1:13,14:
Colossians 1:13
who [Jesus' God] delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;
Colossians 1:14
in [Greek, en, Strong's #1722] whom we have our redemption through [Strong's #1223] his blood, the forgiveness of our sins;
In Colossians 1:14, Paul uses the the same Greek instrumental words as used in Colossians 1:16,17, that is, the Greek instrumental word "en", and the instrumental word "dia". He is showing how God has performed works by means of the Son of his love. God is the source of the actions, and Jesus is the agent that is used by Yahweh, which actions show the pre-eminent place that Yahweh has given to his firstborn creature.
Thus seen, Colossians 1:16,17 do not actually attribute this creation to Jesus, but rather *through* or *in* him. Green's interlinear: "in [Greek *en*, Strong's #1722] him were all things created." This is similar to the expression "in you" in Romans 9:17: For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER *IN YOU*, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH." -- NASV Green's Interlinear:
"For this very thing I raised up you, so as I may show forth in you the power of me." Also in Galatians 3:8: The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU." Green's Interlinear: "that will be blessed in you all the nations."
More instances could be cited, but this makes the point. And the point is that the Greek word is used in this way as meaning "by means of" or "through". If the creation is done "by means of" Jesus, who is the One who would be doing it "by means" of him? God the Father of Jesus (verse 15). Thus God creates these things by means of his firstborn Son, Jesus.
In the latter part of the verse Paul tells that all these things have been created through [Greek, di, Strong's Greek #1223] Jesus and for him. It is Yahweh who is the Creator and it is Jesus who is used by Yahweh as the executor of the commands of Yahweh in creation. Jesus acknowledges his God as the Creator in Mark 13:19.
Thus Yahweh alone is the Creator -- since he is the One who is the designer; yet as the Most High he creates all these things through Jesus and for Jesus. -- Genesis 1:1; 2:4.
Some have objected that Revelation 4:11 states that all things were created for God's pleasure, and thus by combining these two scriptures, they claim that this proves that Jesus is God. Actually in creating all these things through and for Jesus, it is still also for God's pleasure that he does so.
There is no reason to assume that this would make Jesus the same being as Yahweh except to satisfy any of the extra-Biblical philosophies that teach that Jesus is Yahweh. Additionally, we note that the One seated on the throne, Yahweh, is not Jesus, for Jesus is spoken of separately in Revelation 5:6-8 as the Lamb who had been slaughtered and who took the scroll from the One seated on the throne. This is in harmony with Revelation 1:1, which shows that Jesus receives the revelation from his God and transmits it to John by means of the angel.
Thus there is nothing in Colossians 1:16,17 that proves that Jesus is Yahweh the Creator, as many assume.
In service of Jesus and his God,
Ronald
