BDAG at Rv 3:14 - Christ was the first creation now probable

Suedaleg at aol.com Suedaleg at aol.com
Mon Jan 22 02:17:31 EST 2001


Dan Parker asked for comments on the posibility of Christ being created from 
Rev 3:14.

I do not know what BGAD(?) says on the subject of ARCH = beginning or first.  
I checked my Lex. (Mounce) and found primary meaning = beginning, then many 
more implying govenment.  One phrase is difficult to build a doctrine on.  
Fortunately there are many more passages which touch on the subject of 
Christ's relation to creation.  Colossians 1:15-17 (PRWTOTOKOS), 2:10 (where 
ARCH is used in conjunction with EXOUSIA and implies authority), Hebrews 
1:2,3  readily come to mind.  Iam sure there are more which undoubtedly show 
that Christ, the Son of the trinity is the Creator, not a creation, and is by 
right the ruler of creation.

When dealing with the subject of Jesus and creation, we must be careful to 
give full weight to all the passages which touch the issue, and to interpret 
what one says in agreement with all, the less clear by the more clear.  In 
Rev. 3:14 a word is used which has a range of meaning and that meaning must 
be limited not only by the context (here there is little context) but to 
agree with passages where the same subject is given with more clarity in the 
words used.

I hope I have not become too doctrinaire on this list.  Just a response to 
the question of Jesus' position in creation.

Dale Greenlee



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