The question of whether Jesus was created or not is an important theological issue that has been debated for centuries. The Bible contains ample evidence that Jesus, the Son of God, is eternal and uncreated. He has always existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit as part of the triune Godhead. However, some groups throughout history, such as Arius in the early church period, have argued that Jesus was the first creation of God the Father. What does the Bible really teach about this significant issue?
Jesus is Fully God
First, it is clear in Scripture that Jesus is fully God, not a created being. John 1 states that Jesus is the eternal Word who was with God and was God from the beginning (John 1:1-2). Jesus possesses the same divine nature and essence as God the Father. Paul refers to Jesus as our “great God and Savior” in Titus 2:13. Hebrews 1:8 has the Father declaring of the Son, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.” Jesus claims unity with the Father in John 10:30 – “I and the Father are one.” To claim Jesus was created denies His true eternal deity revealed in Scripture.
As God, Jesus is uncreated. He has always existed just as God the Father has always existed. There was never a point when the second member of the Trinity was created or came into being. Jesus declared in John 8:58, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.” He affirms His eternal existence and even uses language only used for God in the Old Testament. As fully God, Jesus is eternal and uncreated.
Jesus as Creator
Second, the Bible is clear that Jesus is the Creator of all things. John 1:3 states, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Colossians 1:16-17 says, “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.” Hebrews 1:10 applies Psalm 102:25-27 to Jesus, saying, “And, ‘You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands.'”
As the uncreated Creator of all things, Jesus could not have been created. It would make no sense for Jesus to create Himself. The testimony of Scripture about Jesus as active in the work of creation rules out the possibility that He was at one point created by the Father. As John 1 says, He was existing from the beginning as the divine Word involved in the creation of all things.
Only Begotten Son
Third, Jesus is referred to in Scripture as the only begotten or one and only Son of God (John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9). This affirms Jesus’ eternal relationship with the Father and His uniqueness. As the only begotten Son, Jesus shares the same divine nature as God the Father. He was not created or made, but is eternally God. Begotten refers to Jesus’ relationship to the Father, not His origin. It stresses His divine sonship, not creation.
At the same time, Christians are called the adopted or begotten sons and daughters of God (Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:5; 1 John 3:1). Believers become children of God by spiritual adoption and new birth, not because we share in the eternal godhood of Christ. Jesus alone is the uncreated only begotten Son.
Firstborn of All Creation
One passage used to argue that Jesus was created is Colossians 1:15, which refers to Him as the “firstborn of all creation.” First, this must be interpreted in light of the larger context that stresses Christ’s supremacy and role as Creator of all things (Col. 1:15-20). It cannot mean Jesus was the first created being. Further, “firstborn” refers to Jesus’ preeminence in rank and authority, not a sequence in time. We see the same usage in Psalm 89:27 where God says of David, “I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.”
As the only begotten Son, Jesus enjoys the supreme status and rank over all creation. Calling Jesus firstborn relates to His exalted position, not chronological origin. What the title denies is that Jesus is a created part of God’s creation. Rather, He has extensive authority over creation as the eternal Son and original Agent through whom the Father created everything (John 1:3; Col. 1:16).
Only True God
John’s writings provide perhaps the most significant evidence against Jesus being a created being. For example, John 17:3 states that the Father is “the only true God” and Jesus Christ is the one whom He sent. Jesus distinguishes Himself from the only true God, affirming that He was sent by the Father. An additional example is Revelation 3:14 where Jesus is “the beginning of the creation of God.” If taken in isolation, this can sound like Jesus was the first creation. But in the prologue to his gospel, John already established Christ’s eternal deity and active role in creation as the Word (John 1:1-3). Jesus cannot be both the uncreated Word and a created being. As Revelation 22:13 says, He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Rather than identifying Jesus as the first created being, Revelation 3:14 means He holds primacy and authority over God’s creation as the eternal Son.
John repeatedly distinguishes Christ, the only begotten Son, from the one true God who sent Him. Throughout his writings, he confirms Jesus’ full deity while also maintaining a distinction in roles between the Father and the Son. But never does John affirm that the Son was created. Rather, Jesus eternally shares the divine nature with His Father.
Distinct from Angels
The Book of Hebrews provides another evidence against Jesus being a created being. Hebrews chapter 1 goes to great lengths to prove that Jesus, as the Son of God, is superior to the angels. Verses 5-14 point out several differences between the Son and angels showing the Son’s supremacy. One key difference noted is that God never says to any angel what He says to the Son in Psalm 2:7 and 2 Samuel 7:14 about being begotten. Angels are ministering spirits created by God (Hebrews 1:7, 14) while the Son shares God’s divine nature.
Why make this point? Because some groups argued that since Jesus was begotten, He must be of a similar nature to angels who were created. The writer of Hebrews refutes this, arguing that what distinguishes the Son from angels rules out that He was ever created. As the eternal Son, He is fully God and thus cannot be categorized with created angels.
Jesus is Uncreated
In summary, the testimony of Scripture rules out that Jesus Christ was ever created. He eternally exists as the divine Son in relation to His Father. All things were created by Him and for Him. Jesus enjoys unparalleled authority over all creation as the firstborn. The only true God sent His only begotten Son into the world for our salvation. The Son shares fully in the divine nature while carrying out the distinct role of Messiah, Savior, and Lord. The uncreated Son of God came to earth so that through Him we might become the children of God.