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We now consider three great passages of the N.T. which ascribe creation to Christ.
"In the beginning was the Word" (John 1: 1-3).
There are four occurrences of the phrase en arche "in the beginning" in the N.T.
namely John 1: 1, 2, Acts 11: 15 and Phil. 4: 15, and it will be seen that after each
occurrence we must add an explanatory term commencing with `when'.
Relating John 1: 1 with 17: 5 and 24, we can read the opening words:
"In the beginning / before the world was
\
\ and before it was overthrown / was the Word."
If there is one fundamental truth which underlies all other revelations concerning the
Godhead, it is that GOD is the Creator, and consequently when we read John 1:, we
gather that, before the first act of creation was undertaken by the Almighty, a movement
took place which is beyond our ability to describe or understand, but which can be
spoken of as a descent of the unconditioned and absolute God, "Who is invisible", into
the realm of the conditioned and manifest. Hence, in the N.T. where creation is ascribed
to Christ, He bears the titles "The Word", "The Image", and "The express Image of His
Person". Essentially "God is spirit" (John 4: 24) and God is "one" (Deut. 6: 4).
Economically, God is revealed as "Father" (Gal. 1: 1), "Son" (Heb. 1: 8) and
"Holy Ghost" (Acts 5: 3, 5), as well as Elohim, Jehovah and other titles.
Manifestly, before incarnation as "The Word" (John 1: 1), "The Image" (Col. 1: 15)
and "The express Image of His substance" (Heb. 1: 3).
Manifestly, at the incarnation "God was manifest in the flesh" (I Tim. iii.16), "The
Word was made flesh" (John 1: 14).
Creation is the work of God Manifest; redemption the work of God manifest in the
flesh. Creation is ascribed to Him as "The Word" as follows:
"All things were made (ginomai had a beginning, came into being) by Him; and
without Him was not anything made that was made" (John 1: 3).
Creation is ascribed to Him as "The Image of the Invisible God" as follows:
"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. And He is before all things, and by him all
things consists" (Col. 1: 16, 17).
Creation is ascribed to Him as "The express Image of His person" as follows:
"And Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth; and the
havens are the works of Thine hands" (Heb. 1: 10).
It will be observed that in John's Gospel, the word `create' is not used, but the word
ginomai `to become'. This seems to have been chosen to emphasize two great facts: