Question:
Dear Greg;
Can
you please explain Proverbs 8:22-31. Is
this the creation of Jesus Christ?
Thank
you for your time and consideration,
Roberto
Answer: Dear Roberto,
Those
who believe that Jesus was created, like an angel, and not what the Bible says
he is—the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the Eternal son of God
who is without beginning or end—often cite this passage as “proof”.
Those
who believe such a thing owe their beliefs to Arius, who did not accept the
divinity of Jesus and whose teachings were condemned by Christianity 1600-1700
years ago. The Watchtower is one of
the current groups teaching such a thing.
Proverbs
8:22-31 is not a specific reference to any person.
This is poetic language, not literal and precise language of engineering.
As poetic language it talks about an abstract idea as if it were a
person—personification. We do this
every day—personifying a boat or a plant.
English does not assign gender to anywhere near as many objects as do
other languages. Wisdom mentioned in
this passage in Proverbs is personification for impact.
Jesus,
God in the flesh, the Son of God, eternal and uncreated, cannot be diminished or
reduced to one of his attributes. He
is wise, but more than wise. He is
all wisdom, as Colossians 2:2-3 says, “…in order that they may know the
mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge.” This same passage
notes, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…”
In
Christ,
Greg
Albrecht