For in him all things were created:
Summary: Understanding what we don’t understand is a key concept to understand if we want to fully appreciate our lack of understanding.
When I first look at this text, I tend to focus on the phrase “in him.” My mind wonders how that works. How are things created “in” someone?
As it turns out, translating the Greek preposition “en” is not a straightforward task. The word can be used in many ways. Most English translations* use some form of “by him.” For example, the King James Version says this; “For by him were all things created …”
I mention this so we don’t get hung up on what it means to create things “in” somebody. Paul’s point is that Jesus is essential to creation. John clarifies this when he clearly states, “without him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3).
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s ponder what the Bible is saying about Jesus.
The first verse in the Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Does this contradict Paul’s statement, or is something else going on? As it turns out, something very important is happening.
Genesis 1:26 says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.’”
God refers to himself in the plural, “us.”
What does this mean?
If you have been raised in the church or have just spent a lot of time around churches, you will have heard the term “Trinity” tossed around. It is a term that is used to help us wrap our minds around something that is incomprehensible. My personal preference is to take the Bible at face value and ignore human efforts to de-mystify God.
To contemplate God as more than one being is humbling. To ponder Jesus as the key to all of creation is awe-inspiring. To think about the Holy Spirit being anywhere and everywhere is both reassuring and unnerving. All of these realities are beyond our human understanding. As God himself explains:
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)
The beauty of these conundrums is that God’s Word leaves us swimming in mystery. What a wonderful place to be!
Application: Learn to sit in awe before the Lord.
Food for Thought: What do “all things” include? Are there things that exist that were not created by Jesus?
*Only about twenty percent of all English translations use some version of “in him.” Most use a form of “by him.”
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In a word – no. Not if we are talking about created beings or materials.
I say that because of passages like:
John 1: 3: Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Colossians 1: 15 – 17: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Thank you, Rich!
Good answer and good references! 🙂
I read the question at the end of the meditation and my brain almost exploded, but then I remembered John 1:3, and read Rich’s response (very well articulated by the way). I think he covered it very well.
I want to share that I have been asking the Lord to give me a topic of debate for a different forum that would open the door of discussion to some very close-minded folks. I think the Lord has given that to me today.
Sorry Chris!
I didn’t mean to make your head “explode!” 🙂
I think Rich’s disclaimer is very important — “created beings and materials.”