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Saturday, January 30, 2010

How was it that "all things were made through (Jesus)"? (John 1:3)

Concerning a corresponding scripture, even the highly trinitarian The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology has to admit:

"In 1 Cor. 8:6 the function of God the Father as the SOURCE of creation is distinguished from Christ's role as MEDIATOR of creation." - p. 1182, Vol. 3.

The word "through" (dia in NT Greek) is important. Although more often translated "by" in the King James Version, dia means "through" in modern English and is rendered that way in modern Bible translations such as RSV, NIV, TEV, etc. (At times some translations may render dia as "by," but it is with the intended meaning of "through": "God's law was given by Moses.") Notice its obvious meaning at Matt. 1:22, "what was spoken by [hypo] the Lord through [dia] the prophet" - NASB. Obviously, the Lord was the source of the message and "spoke" through (dia) the prophet.

Again: John 1:17, "The law was given through [dia] Moses." - NASB. The law obviously did not originate with Moses. Moses was not the source. The source was God even though it was given through (dia) Moses. (Compare Acts 19:11 - "God was performing ... miracles by [dia - `through'] the hands of Paul" - NASB.)

The Greek word dia is a "primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through" - Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, #1223.

So we can see that the Father alone is the source and his first creation (the only direct creation by Him), His only-begotten son, is the channel through whom he caused all the rest of creation to be. "His son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through [dia] whom he made the world." - Heb. 1:2. "All things came into being through [dia] him.... The world was made through [dia] him" - John 1:3,10.

For much more, see:
ELOHIM - Plural 'God' (Scroll down to nearly half the page.)

BWF - 'Beginning,' 'Wisdom,' and 'Firstborn' (1/6th of the way down the page)

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