Calvin D. Redmond on Jesus as God’s Agent of Creation

Calvin D. Redmond, ‘Jesus: God’s Agent of Creation’, Andrews University Seminary Studies 42, 2 (2004), 287-303.

Redmond discusses the four main passages in the New Testament which speak of Jesus’ role in creation:

• 1 Corinthians 8:6
• Colossians 1:16
• Hebrews 1:2, 10
• John 1:3, 10

1 Corinthians 8:6
In the context of Paul’s discussion of meat offered to idols, ‘the supremacy of both God the Father and the Lord Jesus is demonstrated by the act of creation, in which God the Father was the source of all creation and Jesus was the agent by which God’s creative purpose was accomplished in creation’ (290).

Colossians 1:15-20
A hymnic passage which has two stanzas containing a number of parallels, where the first stanza speaks of Christ’s work in creation while the second describes his work in redemption. Jesus’ role in creation is found in 1:16, where ta panta is used (as it is in 1 Corinthians 8:6) to describe the things created. Jesus is, as Larry J. Helyer says, ‘the regent of creation, and the reconciler of creation’ (294).

Hebrews 1:2, 10
The first reference to the Son as agent of creation appears in a comparison between Jesus and the prophets, and is reinforced later in 1:10. Ta panta appears in 1:3 (already encountered in 1 Corinthians 8:6 and Colossians 1:16), and ‘earth’ and ‘heavens’ appear in 1:10 (as they do in Colossians 1:16), showing ‘a conceptual and partial verbal parallel’ (297).

John 1:1-3
Once again, we see the use of panta (1:3). With the exception of John 1, all the other passages make a comparison between Jesus as agent of creation and other objects of veneration – unless John the Baptist is in mind here, when he is set in contrast to Jesus (299).

•••

Redmond briefly discusses the implications of these references for…

• Apologetics – providing ‘a contrast between Jesus and other beings that might be revered or worshiped… by pointing to the superiority of Christ as demonstrated by his work in creation’ (301).

• Wisdom christology – with the language of creation drawing on wisdom traditions and applied to Jesus.

• Indication of early christology? – seen possibly in the similarities in form in the passages.

• Contemporary application – perhaps especially pertinent in places where ‘an animistic worldview honors departed ancestors, as well as spirits of rivers, fields, trees, and so on’ (302) and thus where an understanding of the cosmic Christ might be significant.