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Sunday, September 26, 2010

A Little Extra Insight on Creation

Proverbs 8:22-36 reads as follows:

“The LORD made me as the beginning of His way, the first of His works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth; while as yet He had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world. When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep, When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might, When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth; Then I was by Him, as a nursling; and I was daily all delight, playing always before Him, Playing in His habitable earth, and my delights are with the sons of men. Now therefore, ye children, hearken unto me; for happy are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Happy is the man that hearkeneth to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death... (JPS Tanakh).'

The big question in these previous verses is who is "I?” Is “I” referring to a person? It is certainly not the writer of the Proverbs who was there. The verses once again say:

“…When He established the heavens, I was there; when He set a circle upon the face of the deep, When He made firm the skies above, when the fountains of the deep showed their might, When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not transgress His commandment, when He appointed the foundations of the earth; Then I was by Him, as a nursling…”

Who was it that was there?

The first creation account says in Genesis 1:26 that: "And God said: 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness... (JPS Tanakh)."

The verse says “our image” and “our likeness,” it does not say “my image” and “my likeness.” Why is the verse using a plural statement? Plural normally refers to more than one.

I believe that New Testament writers give us insight on these questions. I will present two New Testament writings that give us more insight on this question.

John 1: 1-17 reads as follows:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God.
All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him.
He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'")
And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (Holy Bible, ESV).”

The foregoing verses from the book of John say that Jesus was there at creation of all things in the beginning.

In letter to the Colossians, Paul gives even more relevant insight to what perhaps is being said in the initial writings I presented from the book of Proverbs.

Colossians 1: 15-23 reads as follows:

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister (Holy Bible, ESV).”

I believe that the “I” which is being mentioned in the initial verse from book of Proverbs which I presented to you was none other than Jesus Christ. Paul says that “all things were created through him and for him.” I do not know if this is convincing enough to you, but it definitely is to me. I definitely want to know more about Jesus Christ, do you?

Proverbs 30:4 reads as follows:

“Who hath ascended up into heaven, and descended? Who hath gathered the wind in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in his garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if thou knowest (JPS Tanakh)?”

Who has established all the ends of the Earth and is His son’s name Jesus Christ?

1 comment:

Mo said...

The inspiration for this posting came to me because of a conversation me and my dad were having at his house this past weekend. Of course, the verses in reference came up and I thought it would make a great posting. I am sure that if my dad would have written it, it would have been more in depth, but still, I think it gives somewhat of a glimpse.