The idea that Jesus Christ did not always exist but was created goes back hundreds of years.  This idea is attributed to a man named Arius who lived two or three hundred years after Jesus Christ.  The Jehovah’s Witnesses are one of several groups who believe this.

There are two main Scriptures which they use.  The first is Colossians 1:15.

Col 1:15  He [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

The argument is that if Jesus Christ is the firstborn, then He was the first to be born and thus created.

The second Scripture is Revelation 3:14.

Rev 3:14  “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

The argument is that if Jesus Christ is the beginning of the creation of God, then He was the very first being which God created.

We will look at these two Scriptures later.  But first, let us look at three passages of Scripture which clearly show that Christ was not created. 

Proof Scripture 1 – Micah 5:2.

The first is Micah 5:2.

Mic 5:2  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

This is a prophecy about the Messiah, Jesus Christ and how He would be born in Bethlehem.  This verse in Micah is quoted in Matthew chapter 2 in reference to the coming of the Messiah. 

Mat 2:5  So they said to him [Herod], “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:
Mat 2:6  ‘BUT YOU, BETHLEHEM, IN THE LAND OF JUDAH, ARE NOT THE LEAST AMONG THE RULERS OF JUDAH; FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME A RULER WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’ “

Notice, in reference to Jesus Christ Micah 5:2 says, “whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting”.  His goings forth have been from everlasting, that is, His existence has been for ever.

Proof Scripture 2 – Hebrews 7:3.

Another Scripture is found in the book of Hebrews.  Hebrews chapters 6 and 7 explain that Jesus Christ is our High Priest.

Heb 6:20  …, Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

Then a few verses on in Heb 7:3.

Heb 7:3  without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.

These verses show that Jesus Christ, who is our High Priest, has neither beginning of days nor end of life.  He does not have beginning of days which means He has always existed.

Proof Scripture 3 – John 1:1-3.

A third passage which clearly shows that Christ was not created, John 1:1-3.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2  He was in the beginning with God.

The Word is Jesus Christ as verse 14 makes clear.

Joh 1:14  And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, glory as of an only begotten from the Father, full of grace and of truth.

It’s clear from John 1:1-2 that the Word, that is Jesus Christ, has been with God from the very beginning, and didn’t come along later as some creation.  The next verse removes all doubt.

Joh 1:3  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

Without Him nothing was made that was made.  Every single thing which has been created has been created by Jesus Christ.  Therefore, Jesus Christ cannot be a created being, otherwise He must have created Himself, which is clearly nonsense.

We have covered three very clear passages of Scripture which show that Jesus Christ is not a created being but has always existed. 

Let us now return to the two Scriptures the Jehovah’s Witnesses use, Colossians 1:15 and Revelation 3:14?  How are these Scriptures to be understood in light of the clear teaching that Jesus Christ was not created? 

Colossians 1:15

Col 1:15  He [Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Some translations have “firstborn of all creation” rather than “firstborn over all creation”.  What does this mean?  The next verse explains it. 

Col 1:16  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

This verse, like John 1:3, says that all things were created by Jesus Christ.  Firstborn is a title of pre-eminence.  Firstborn over all creation means that Jesus has pre-eminence over all creation, because He created it all.

An example of firstborn meaning pre-eminence is found in Psalm 89. 

Psa 89:20  I have found David, My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him.

Psa 89:27  And I will make him [David] My first-born, higher than the kings of the earth.

David, who was the last one born in his family, was called the firstborn by God.  Here, the word firstborn is used as a title of pre-eminence, and this is how firstborn is used in Colossians 1:15. 

Revelation 3:14

Lastly, let’s look at Revelation 3:14.

Rev 3:14  “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

The Greek word translated here as “beginning” is translated in other places as “chief”, “principality”, or “first”.  In fact, some translations have, “the chief of creation”, and others, “the head of creation”.  For example, LITV renders this as:

Rev 3:14  And to the angel of the assembly of Laodicea, write: These things says the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Head of the creation of God:

If this verse is translated as “the Beginning of the creation”, it means that Jesus Christ is the origin or the first cause of the creation, since He created all things.  And if this verse is translated as “the Head of the creation”, it means that Jesus Christ is the head or the chief of creation.

Conclusion

It is clear from the three proof Scriptures that Jesus Christ was not created.  Colossians 1:15 and Revelation 3:14 can easily be understood not to contradict this.