4

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Jesus is God's only direct creation, and that it was Jesus who created all other things:

Since all created things had a beginning, there was a time when God was alone. Countless ages ago, however, God became a Creator. Who was his first creation? The last book of the Bible identifies Jesus as “the beginning of the creation by God.” (Revelation 3:14) Jesus is “the firstborn of all creation.” That is so “because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible.” (Colossians 1:15, 16) Yes, Jesus was the only one directly created by God himself. (Who Is Jesus Christ? on wol.jw.org)

We see this most clearly in the Jehovah's Witnesses translation of Colossians 1:15-16:

Colossians 1:15-16 (NWT) He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him.

But Isaiah 44:24 says that it was Jehovah who created all things by himself: note the last line of Isaiah 44:24 which says that no one else was with Jehovah, probably speaking primarily about humans, but also angels and other spiritual beings, which would seem to preclude God co-creating with Jesus.

Isaiah 44:24 (NWT): This is what Jehovah says, your Repurchaser,
Who formed you since you were in the womb:
“I am Jehovah, who made everything.
I stretched out the heavens by myself,
And I spread out the earth.
Who was with me?

How do the Jehovah's Witnesses reconcile Isaiah 44:24 with their belief that Jesus is the only direct creation of God and it was Jesus who created all other things?

Question based on various revisions of this now deleted question by Mr. Bond.

Improve this question
8
  • A point of order. Jehovah’s Witnesses do not actually teach that Jesus created all other things but that Jehovah created all other things by means of Jesus. Jesus is not a co creator but the agent or instrumentality through whom Jehovah the Creator worked. – Kris Jan 29 '20 at 3:06
  • 1
    @Kris Sure, that's the kind of explanation I'd be looking for in answers. – curiousdannii♦ Jan 29 '20 at 3:08
  • Do you think bond will return? I wish he had not taken our efforts to help as being disrespectful. I have a sense that he may not use English as his first language. I admire his efforts to participate but he has a short fuse and likes to rant. I’m working on an answer. – Kris Jan 29 '20 at 3:28
  • 6
    @Kris. Well your sense is wrong. I'm a full blooded American. Served in Vietnam in 1968, been a Christian now for 57 years, been married 51 years and have 3 daughters. Been in apologetics for 56 years. One of my main mentors was Dr. Walter Martin. I'm conversant about the cults and occult. Have had formal and informal debates with people in the cults including the Witnesses, Mormons, Unitarians, etc. Been on the radio in Los Angels (KKLA) years ago discussing the Word of Faith religious movement, i.e. Kenneth Hagin, Copeland and others. Lastly, I do frequent other sites and I like this one. – Mr. Bond Jan 29 '20 at 4:14
  • 1
    @curiousdannii Well thank you! And none of this has anything to do with what Kris said, "disrespect." It was more of a matter of "frustration." You have and others have edited my post and I did not complain. So let's put this one behind us until you "frustrate" me again. Lol. – Mr. Bond Jan 29 '20 at 4:34
1

Jehovah’s Witnesses DON’T believe that Jesus created all other things. Jehovah alone was the creator. We DO believe that.

Colossians 1:15-16 (NWT) ............ All other things have been created through him and for him.

Notice through him not by him. Take a look at Insight Vol 2

If the estimates of modern-day scientists as to the age of the physical universe are anywhere near correct, Jesus’ existence as a spirit creature began thousands of millions of years prior to the creation of the first human. (Compare Mic 5:2.) This firstborn spirit Son was used by his Father in the creation of all other things. (Joh 1:3; Col 1:16, 17) This would include the millions of other spirit sons of Jehovah God’s heavenly family (Da 7:9, 10; Re 5:11), as well as the physical universe and the creatures originally produced within it. Logically, it was to this firstborn Son that Jehovah said: “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness.” (Ge 1:26) All these other created things were not only created “through him” but also “for him,” as God’s Firstborn and the “heir of all things.” —Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. Not a co-Creator. The Son’s share in the creative works, however, did not make him a co-Creator with his Father. The power for creation came from God through his holy spirit, or active force. (Ge 1:2; Ps 33:6) And since Jehovah is the Source of all life, all animate creation, visible and invisible, owes its life to him. (Ps 36:9) Rather than a co-Creator, then, the Son was the agent or instrumentality through whom Jehovah, the Creator, worked. Jesus himself credited God with the creation, as do all the Scriptures. —Mt 19:4-6

The fact that Jesus played a role Under the direction of the ultimate creator does not take away from the fact that Jehovah alone is the creator.

The context of Isaiah 44 is not dealing with the subject of how Jehovah accomplished creation. It is establishing him as the Almighty Creator.

So the answer is there is not a textual discrepancy between saying all other things were created through Jesus and Jehovah saying in Isaiah I alone created the heavens. The source of dynamic energy responsible for every creation is Jehovah the eternally existing Almighty God. The methodology and instrumentality used in creation need not be mentioned by Jehovah when he declares he created the heavens.

That’s the basics of JWs answer.

A very detailed answer to this question was written about 7 years ago on Yahoo Answers it was reposted on this site which is easier to access.

Improve this answer
10
  • Still, how can Jesus being the agent or instrument of Jehovah's creative acts when Isaiah says that he made everything "by himself" and asks rhetorically "Who was with me?" I can't see how Jesus being an agent is compatible with Jehovah saying he was by himself. Do the JWs have a specific interpretation of that? – curiousdannii♦ Jan 30 '20 at 3:49
  • 1
    @curiousdannii reading the 44th chapter provides the context. Jehovah was saying that none of the false gods who men formed idols of had any power at all “There is no God but me”. If there were why was I all alone when I created the heavens. The statement at 44:24 is establishing only one true God not detailing who else was in the heavens when he created the heavens and earth. Job 38:7 tells us the angels were present for this and certainly Jesus was as well. – Kris Jan 30 '20 at 4:32
  • Kris, it is impossible to see anything on the Yahoo Religion & Spirituality web page unless you give Verison carte blanche to do anything they like with your data. That's why I stopped using that site. Can you find an alternative 'comprehensive answer'? – Lesley Jan 30 '20 at 15:33
  • Thanks Lesley I will edit that to a more friendly site – Kris Jan 30 '20 at 15:42
  • 1
    @Lee As was stated, JWs believe Jehovah alone was the one actively creating, and Jesus was the instrumentality. It's similar to how a painter uses a paintbrush to create. The paintbrush doesn't get credit for the creative work, though it played a role in making the painting. – 4castle Jul 5 '20 at 19:03

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.