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

CEP7 at aol.com CEP7 at aol.com
Thu Jan 25 15:05:41 EST 2001



In a message dated 1/25/01 10:07:37 AM, GregStffrd writes:

<< I am not denying that a noun such ARCH **can be** transformed into a 
verbal noun, but I am asking where the basis for doing is in this verse, or 
elsewhere with respect to this noun. I see no basis for seeing a verbal idea 
in ARCH, here, and simply highlighting its relationship to a verbal root does 
not give it that idea. 

Remember, I said I was open to viewing it as an objective genitive, if you 
could show that here or elsewhere ARCH can carry an implicit verbal idea. 
Simply being a cognate to a verb does not legitimize the interpretation. It 
is a possibility, grammatically, to be sure, but a remote one at best. >>

ARCH is a verbal noun. It does not have to be transformed into one. The same 
would be true of ARCWN, ERGON, AGAPH, etc. Nouns with verbal cognates are 
essentially verbal nouns. Thus, when genitive substantives are related to 
verbal head nouns, the genitive should be taken as a verbal genitive unless 
the context dictates that this is not the proper sense.

«If Christ is the beginner, then he is not an intimidate agent, but the 
causal agent. If one is intermediate, then someone else is beginning the 
process through that agent. Col. 1:15-17 does use EN AUTWi, showing the 
instrumental role of Christ in creation, but this is used together with 
passive verbs! Hence, again, the beginner is someone other than Christ, who 
creates "in/through" him. I see nothing that would indicate that Christ is 
the beginner, but, as you seem to suggest, an intermediate agent. This is not 
consistent with the idea of "beginner," which rightly is reserved for the 
causal agent. »

This is rather complicated to explain so let me use a rather inexact analogy. 
When I order a meal in a restaurant. Who is the agent involved in making sure 

I receive a meal. The waiter takes my order takes it to the chef who makes 
the meal and the waiter brings my meal to me. The waiter is the ultimate 
agent (well actually, I am the ultimate agent since I ordered it) because he 
takes the order and brings the food. The chef is an intermediate agent 
because he prepared the meal. There are a whole host of other intermediate 
agents and instruments (people who provide ingrediates the tools used to make 
the meal, etc.).

Creation is much less complex, at least from an ex nihilo standpoint. 
Basically, you can see it from two standpoints. One can simply see the 
Father, Christ, and Spirit all having roles in creating without designating 
specific tasks in creating or any causal or hierarchal structure. The 
hierarchical viewpoint would be having creation as the Father's idea and 
ultimate cause, Christ is the Agent whom He commissions to create, and the 
Spirit is the instrument which Christ uses to create. The point is there does 
not necessarily have to be one person that is seen as the agent of creation.

Charles E. Powell, Ph.D.
(h) cep7 at aol.com
(w) cpowell at dts.edu
(h) 972-231-4166
(w) 214-841-3763



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