There are many believers in the Torah community and other religions that believe YESHUA was created by YAHWEH the Father as the first act of creation. This is a false and dangerous doctrine that comes from the heretical belief called Arianism. The definition of Arianism by Oxford languages is “an influential HERESY denying the divinity of Messiah, originating with Alexandrian priest Arius (c. 250-336). Arianism maintained that the Son of ELOHIM was CREATED by The Father and was therefore neither coeternal with the Father nor consubstantial (of the same substance or essence used especially of the three persons of the Triune-ELOHIM).”
Indeed, it has been a very influential heresy that has been embraced proudly by many to this day. I will disprove this heresy with the Hebrew, Aramaic, and the early church fathers such as Polycarp and Irenaeus who came before Arius who invented the unscriptural doctrine of Arianism. The scriptures that are used as so-called “proof texts” for the naysayers will point to Revelation 3:14 and Colossians 1:15, so I will address Revelation 3:14 first.
Revelation 3:14 (Most translations)
“And to the messenger of the assembly of Laodicea write: Thus says Ahmein, the faithful witness, THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION OF ELOHIM, says this…”
So based off their interpretation of this scripture they believe that YESHUA was the first to be created amongst the entire creation. This is false, so now let’s see what YESHUA is really saying.
Revelation 3:14 (Hebrew)
“And to the messenger of the assembly of Laodicea write: Thus says Amein, the faithful witness, THE BEGINNING OF THE CREATION…”
In the Hebrew, YESHUA is saying that He was here from the beginning and is the Creator of the creation of YAHWEH, not the first to be created! How do we know that YESHUA is saying He is the Creator?
John 1:1-3 (Hebrew)
“In the beginning the SON was ELOAH (God). The SON OF EL (God) was both with EL, and the SON OF EL was ELOAH. This One was IN THE BEGINNING WITH EL. ALL THINGS WERE MADE BY HIM; AND WITHOUT HIM NOTHING WAS MADE, OF THAT WHICH WAS MADE.”
John 1:3 (Aramaic English New Testament)
“Everything existed THROUGH HIS HANDS, and without Him, not even one thing existed of the things which have existed.”
In the third footnote of the Aramaic English New Testament Andrew Gabriel writes “Literal Aramaic reading; “through His hands” indicated the WORD AS A CREATIVE FORCE, LIKE A SCULPTOR working under the orders of a King.”
Isaiah 48:16 (Complete Jewish Bible)
“Come close to Me, and listen to this: SINCE THE BEGINNING I have not spoken in secret, since the time THINGS BEGAN TO BE, I HAVE BEEN THERE; and now YAHWEH ELOHIM has sent Me and His Spirit.”
Furthermore, other translations of Revelation 3:14 match all the scriptures that have been presented, and make it abundantly clear that YESHUA wasn’t saying that He was created but rather that He was the Creator.
Revelation 3:14 (Aramaic English New Testament)
“And to the Messenger of the assembly which is at Laodicea, write: “These things says the Ahmein, the witness, the faithful, the true, THE CHIEF OF THE CREATION OF ELOHIM.”
Revelation 3:14 (Compete Jewish Bible)
“To the angel of the Messianic Community in Laodicea write: ‘Here is the message from the Ahmein, the faithful and true witness, THE RULER OF ELOHIM’S CREATION…”
Revelation 3:14 (Amplified Bible 1987 edition)
“And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Ahmein, the trusty and faithful and true Witness, THE ORIGIN AND BEGINNING AND AUTHOR OF ELOHIM’s CREATION.”
Cambridge dictionary defines author as “A person who BEGINS OR CREATES SOMETHING.”
Hebrews 1:8-12 (Amplified Bible)
“But about the SON [The Father says to Him], “Your throne, O EL (GOD), is FOREVER AND EVER, and the scepter of [absolute] righteousness is the scepter of His Kingdom. You have loved righteousness [integrity, virtue, uprightness in purpose] and have hated lawlessness [injustice, iniquity] therefore EL, Your EL, Has anointed You with the oil of gladness above Your companions.” And You, Master, LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH IN THE BEGINNING, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; they will perish, BUT YOU REMAIN [forever and ever]; and they will all wear out like a garment, and like a robe You will roll them up; like a garment they will be changed. But You are the same [forever], and Your years WILL NEVER END.” But to which of the angels has the Father ever said, “Sit at My right hand [together with Me in royal dignity], until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet [in triumphant conquest]”? Are not all the angel’s ministering spirits sent out [by ELOHIM] to serve (accompany, protect) those who will inherit salvation? [Of course they are!]
Psalms 102:25-28
“At the beginning You founded the earth; the heavens are the work of Your hands. Even they will perish, but You endure; Yes, all of them will wear out like a garment. Like clothing You will change them and they shall be changed. But You remain the same, and Your YEARS WILL NEVER END. The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You.”
Melito of Sardis (died in 180 AD)
“He that hung up the earth in space was Himself hanged up; He that fixed the heavens was fixed with nails; He that bore up the earth was born up on a tree; the Master of all was subjected to ignominy (public shame) in a naked body---EL (GOD) put to death!...In order that He might not be seen, the luminaries turned away, and the day became darkened---because they slew EL, who hung naked on the tree…This is He WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH, AND IN THE BEGINNING, TOGETHER WITH THE FATHER, FASHIONED MAN; who was announced by means of the law and the prophets; who put on a bodily form in the Virgin; who was hanged upon the tree; Who was buried in the earth; Who rose from the place of the dead, and ascended to the heights of heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father.”
Let’s now let’s examine Colossians 1:15:
Colossians 1:15 (Most translations)
“Who is the likeness of the invisible ELOHIM, the FIRST-BORN OF ALL CREATION.”
This scripture is another one used as “proof-text” that YESHUA was created, because they believe that Paul is saying that He is first of YAHWEH’s creation, just as they attempt to do with Revelation 3:14. But is this the correct interpretation of this scripture? No! The scriptures CANNOT contradict itself and ELOHIM is not the author of confusion. The term “first-born” is confusing many because they are reading the scriptures with a “western mindset” versus an “eastern mindset”, so let’s view some other translations to clear up this passage and then explain the context.
Colossians 1:15 (Complete Jewish Bible)
“He is the visible image of the invisible ELOHIM. HE IS SUPREME OVER ALL CREATION…”
Colossians 1:15 (Amplified Bible)
“He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen ELOHIM [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the PREEMINENT ONE, THE SOVEREIGN, AND THE ORIGINATOR] OF ALL CREATION.”
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines “Preeminent” as “Having PARAMOUNT RANK, DIGNITY, OR IMPORTANCE: OUSTANDING, SUPREME.”
So, we see the words rank and supreme in the definition of the word preeminent and the exact word that was used in the Complete Jewish Bible and the Amplified Bible agrees by using the words SOVEREIGN AND ORGINATOR OF ALL CREATION! Even in the TS2009 version there is a footnote for Colossians 1:15 which says: See (Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 3:14). In other words, Colossians 1:15 matches all the scriptures that were covered above regarding Revelation 3:14 that YESHUA is the AUTHOR, CHIEF, RULER, SUPREME, ORGINATOR, and SCULPTOR of YAHWEH’s creation and NOT a part of the creation!
Furthermore, reading the next verse in Colossians gives us the entire context of what Paul was saying:
Colossians 1:16 (Complete Jewish Bible)
“Because in connection with Him WERE CREATED ALL THINGS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE, WHETHER THRONES, RULERSHIPS OR AUTHORITIES—THEY HAVE ALL BEEN CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM.” He EXISTED BEFORE ALL THINGS, and He holds everything together.”
Colossians 1:16 (thearamaicscriptures.com)
“And by Him, everything was created that is in the Shmaya (the heavens) and in the Ara (the earth); all that is seen, and all that isn’t seen; if Thrones, and if Dominions, and if Principalities, and if Authorities, EVERYTHING BY HIS HAND (i.e. Power) AND BY MEANS OF HIM, HAVE BEEN CREATED.”
The wording in from the Aramaicscriptures.com of “Everything by His hand” sounds just like what I quoted earlier from the Aramaic English New Testament:
John 1:3 (Aramaic English New Testament)
“Everything existed THROUGH HIS HANDS, and without Him, not even one thing existed of the things which have existed.”
Therefore, we can easily conclude that Revelation 3:14 and Colossians 1:15-16 all agree with John 1, Hebrews 1, Genesis 1 and Isaiah 48:16 that YESHUA is the eternal Creator and not the created and destroys the false heretical doctrine of Arianism.
YESHUA is Eternal
Eternal is defined by Oxford languages as “LASTING OR EXISTING FOREVER; WITHOUT END OR BEGINNING.” Synonyms for the same word are EVERLASTING AND NEVER-ENDING.”
“Without end or beginning” included in the definition of eternal is a perfect match for the description of YESHUA in the Book of Hebrews! which means that YESHUA was UNCREATED!
Hebrew 7:3 (Aramaic Peshitta)
“Neither his father nor his mother is recorded in the genealogies; and neither the BEGINNING OF HIS DAYS NOR THE END OF HIS LIFE, BUT LIKE THE SON OF ELOHIM, his priesthood abides forever.”
John 1:9-11 (Hebrew)
“He (YESHUA) is truly a lamp; and He shines on every man in this world. He is ETERNAL; and the WORLD WAS MADE BY HIM; but the world does not recognize Him, neither the power of His words.”
John 3:17-18 (Hebrew)
“For ELOAH did not send His Son into the world in order to judge the world, but in order that the world may be saved through Him. Whosoever believes in Him will not be judged, but whosoever does not believe in Him is already judged—because he does not believe IN THE ETERNAL, THE ONE-ALONE BEGOTTEN SON OF ELOAH.”
John 8:24-25 (Hebrew)
“Unless you believe that I AM HE (Exodus 3:14), you will die in your iniquity. Then they said to Him “You, who are you?!” So YESHUA answered and said to them, “THE ANICENT ONE, who speaks many things unto you, and speaks of you, and judges.”
Micah 5:1-2 (Complete Jewish Bible)
“But you, Bethlehem near Efrat, so small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth to Me the future ruler of Yisra’el, whose ORIGINS are far in the past, BACK IN ANCIENT TIMES.”
The Amplified Bible version leaves a footnote that says, “LITERALLY THE DAYS OF ETERNITY.”
Eternity defined by Merriam-Webster is “the quality or state of being ETERNAL. Infinite time. LASTING THROUGHOUT ETERNITY.”
Polycarp and Irenaeus the early church fathers
Polycarp was a disciple of John who walked with YESHUA and Polycarp was a bishop of the assembly of Smyrna and wrote a letter to the Philippians in 108 AD:
Polycarp letter to the Philippians Chapter 12:
“For I trust that you are well versed in the Sacred Scriptures, and that nothing is hid from you; but to me this privilege is not yet granted. It is declared then in these Scriptures, be angry, and transgress not, and, let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Ephesians 4:26 Happy is he who remembers this, which I believe to be the case with you. But may the EL (God) and Father of our YESHUA HA’MASHIACH, and YESHUA MESSIAH Himself, who is the Son of EL, AND OUR ETERNAL HIGH PRIEST, build you up in faith and truth, and in all meekness, gentleness, patience, long-suffering, forbearance, and purity; and may He bestow on you a lot and portion among His saints, and on us with you, and on all that are under heaven, who shall believe in our Master and EL (God) YESHUA HA’MASHIACH, and in His Father, who raised Him from the dead.”
Irenaeus who was a disciple of Polycarp, wrote in his book Against Heresies (Book III, Chapter 19):
2. “For this reason [it is, said], “Who shall declare this generation? Isaiah 53:8 since “He is a man, and who shall recognize Him?” Jeremiah 17:9 But he to whom the Father which is in heaven has revealed Him, Matthew 16:16 knows Him, so that He understands that He who “was not born either by the will of the flesh, or by the will of man,” John 1:13 is the Son of man, this is Messiah, the Son of the living ELOHIM. For I have shown from the Scriptures, that no one of the sons of Adam is as to everything, and absolutely, called EL (GOD), or named Master. But that He is Himself in His own right, beyond all men who ever lived. EL, AND MASTER, AND KING ETERNAL, AND THE INCARNATE WORD, proclaimed by all the prophets, the apostles, and by the Spirit Himself (RUACH HA’KODESH), may be seen by all who have attained to even a small portion of the truth.”
“According to Crosswalk, traditional Arianism holds that YESHUA was created by ELOHIM as the first act of creation. However, Irenaeus believed that YESHUA was NOT A CREATED BEING but rather He was UNCREATED EL.”
We can see that this is true from the words of Irenaeus himself by stating that YESHUA is EL (GOD), Master, KING ETERNAL, and the Incarnate Word. So, we have three of the early church fathers in Polycarp, Irenaeus, and Melito of the first century, who were not too far removed from YESHUA’s day who agree that YESHUA is ETERNAL!
Ambrose of Milan (338-397) The Proceedings from the Council of Aqueila 25)
“It is written that Messiah suffered: He suffered then in respect of His flesh: in respect of His ELOHIM-head He has IMMORTALITY. He WHO DENIES THIS, IS A DEVIL.”
Let us return to the ancient paths of worship and follow the true doctrine of the scriptures and turn away from all heresy in these last days.
As always may YAHWEH bless you all in YESHUA’s Name!