Did he? I don't think so. Rather, Paul said that all things are created "in him", indicating that Jesus is the epitome of all other forms and instances of rulership.
Really?
All things (ta panta). The universe as in Rom_11:35, a well-known philosophical phrase. It is repeated at the end of the verse.
In him were created (en autōi ektisthē). Paul now gives the reason (hoti, for) for the primacy of Christ in the work of creation (Col_1:16f.).
It is the constative aorist passive indicative ektisthē (from ktizō, old verb, to found, to create (Rom_1:25). This central activity of Christ in the work of creation is presented also in Jhn_1:3; Heb_1:2 and is a complete denial of
the Gnostic philosophy.
The whole of creative activity is summed up in Christ including the angels in heaven and everything on earth. God wrought through “the Son of his love.” All earthly dignities are included.
Have been created (ektistai). Perfect passive indicative of ktizō, “stand created,” “remain created.” The permanence of the universe rests, then, on Christ far more than on gravity. It is a Christo-centric universe.
Through him (di' autou). As the intermediate and sustaining agent. He had already used
en autōi (in him) as the sphere of activity.
And unto him (kai eis auton). This is the only remaining step to take and Paul takes it (1Co_15:28) See note on Eph_1:10 for similar use of
en autōi of Christ and in Col_1:19, Col_1:20 again we have en autōi, di' autou, eis auton used of Christ.
See note on Heb_2:10 for
di' hon (because of whom) and
di' hou (by means of whom) applied to God concerning the universe (ta panta). In Rom_11:35 we find ex autou kai di' autou kai eis auton ta panta referring to God. But Paul does not use ex in this connection of Christ, but only en, dia, and eis. See the same distinction preserved in 1Co_8:6 (ex of God, dia, of Christ).
Col 1:16 That01 In02 Him03 Is-created04 The05 All06 the((p))07 In08 The09 Heavens10 And11 the((p))12 On13 The14 earth15 The16 visible((p))17 And18 The19 invisible((p))20 whether21 Thrones22 or23 lordships24 or25 sovereignties26 or27 Authorities28 The29 All30 through31 Him32 And33 Into34 Him35 Has-been-created36
Read carefully.
This is a perfect example to make my point. Paul argues that Jesus being a man did not disqualify him from being the Messiah. Thus, the subject of Paul's argument is Jesus-the-man, not a pre-existent second person of a Trinity. Jesus-the-man spoke in the last days. Jesus-the-man is his Son. Jesus-the-man is the one who has been appointed the heir of all things.
Since Jesus-the-man did not exist until he was born to the virgin Mary, then it isn't possible that Paul meant to say that Jesus-the-man played a central role in the creation process. Instead, Paul is saying that Jesus-the-man remained the central focus of God's purpose for History.
Not so fast--
Paul’s Writings Explicitly Affirm Jesus’ Pre-Existence
While Paul emphasizes the humanity of Jesus, he also clearly teaches that Jesus existed before His incarnation. In Colossians 1:16-17, Paul writes,
"For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible... And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
These verses unequivocally place Jesus at the center of creation, not as a mere man but as the pre-existent Son of God. If Jesus existed "before all things," He cannot simply be limited to His human nature.
The Logos in John 1 is Identified as Pre-Existent
The prologue of John’s Gospel states,
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... All things were made by him, and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:1-3).
This identifies the Logos (the Word) as both
pre-existent and the agent of creation. John 1:14 confirms that the Logos became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ,
connecting the pre-existent Word to the man Jesus.
This refutes the idea that Jesus' existence began with His birth to Mary.
Hebrews 1:2-3 Connects the Son to Creation
Hebrews 1:2 states that God
"hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds."
The phrase "by whom also he made the worlds" directly attributes creation to the Son. While the Son's incarnation occurred in time,
His role as the agent of creation establishes His pre-existence and divinity.
Paul’s Use of "Jesus-the-Man" Complements, Not Contradicts, His Divinity
It’s important to understand that Paul speaks about Jesus’ humanity to emphasize His qualification as the Messiah and His role as the mediator between God and humanity (e.g., 1 Timothy 2:5:
"For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus."). However, this
does not negate His divine nature.
Philippians 2:6-7 states that Jesus,
"being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant." This passage affirms that Jesus existed in the "form of God" before humbling Himself in the Incarnation.
A Misreading of "God’s Purpose"
While it’s true that Jesus is central to God’s redemptive purpose in history, Paul repeatedly describes Jesus not merely as the focus of God's plan but as the one through whom God accomplishes His will. Ephesians 1:10-11 speaks of God’s plan to "gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him." This language highlights Jesus as both the central figure of history and the one through whom all creation is unified, affirming both His humanity and divinity.
The Virgin Birth Does Not Preclude Pre-Existence
Your argument that Jesus-the-man "did not exist until He was born"
conflates His human nature with His divine nature. The doctrine of the Incarnation teaches that Jesus took on human flesh in the womb of Mary but does not suggest this is the beginning of His existence. John 8:58 records Jesus saying,
"Before Abraham was, I am," a direct claim to pre-existence and divinity, echoing the divine name revealed in Exodus 3:14.
Conclusion:
Your assertion that Paul focuses only on "Jesus-the-man" to exclude His pre-existence misrepresents Paul’s theology. Paul, along with the rest of the New Testament,
consistently teaches that Jesus Christ is both fully human and fully divine-the Son of God who became incarnate to fulfill God’s redemptive purposes.
Limiting Jesus to His humanity ignores the full scope of Scripture and diminishes the profound mystery of the Incarnation.
Do you acknowledge this?
In my view, John is talking about the promise (logos) of God, which became flesh and dwelt among us.
Jesus Christ is a person who could be touched and handled by the throngs-a Man that was crucified, died, buried and resurrected-so how can THIS Messiah be a "plan?" Why can't you see that Yeshua preexisted and was active in creation along WITH the Father and the Ruach?
@CadyandZoe?
J.
