The Word’s Role in Creation in John 1:3

Confusion at family devotions

Not long ago, a friend of mine was reading the Bible with his family. His kids had picked out some new Bibles – New Living Translations – so he brought home another copy he had at the office so they could all be on the same page. He started reading from John 1, but he didn’t get far before red flags began to fly. In verse 3 he read, “He [the Word] created everything there is.” Wait a minute, he thought. That goes against what I believe about creation and the distinctive roles of the members of the Trinity! The confusion only grew as his kids chimed in, “Daddy, that’s not what mine says!” (Their NLT said, “God created all things through him.”) My friend decided to check his Greek New Testament, and discovered that the word θεὸς did not even occur in this verse. What was going on here? Why were these two NLT versions so different from one another and from the other English versions he knew? And most importantly, do these differences reflect arbitrary translation choices, or are they theologically significant?

John 1 is indeed a treacherous passage to translate. Our understandings of the Trinity, Christ, creation, and more depend to a large extent on the words contained in these verses. And as this anecdote illustrates, translations are not entirely in agreement. In this post, I’ll be looking at John 1:3 in the Greek, ESV, and two NLT versions (there are in fact more than two editions, but the 1996 and 2004 editions are most significantly different.) I will briefly assess the theological significance of these variations. Here are the versions:

Greek: πάντα διʼ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο
ESV: All things were created through him
NLT (1996): He created everything there is
NLT (2004): God created all things through him

Theological considerations

Our understanding of this verse largely hinges on how we understand διʼ αὐτοῦ (“through him”). The preposition with the genitive is most commonly understood here as agency, but does this mean that the Father (not stated explicitly in Greek, as the verb is passive) created everything through the agency of the Logos, or that the Logos was the sole agent? These prepositions are slippery little creatures, and from a linguistic standpoint, both options are possible.

We know from elsewhere in Scripture that the pre-existent Christ was active in creation. In Heb. 1:10, God says about the Son, “In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.” In Col. 1:16 we read, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth.” (Most English versions render ἐν αὐτῷ as ‘by him,’ though interestingly, NLT 2004 prefers “through him.”)

It is entirely appropriate to suggest that Christ created the heavens and the earth, but this is not the whole picture.  The Father clearly had a prominent role to play in creation as well (Gen 1:1, 1 Cor. 8:6, Heb. 1:2). Even the Holy Spirit was there at the beginning, “hovering over the face of the waters” (Gen. 1:2). The entire tripartite Godhead was there at creation bringing the universe into existence. 

It is entirely appropriate to suggest that Christ created the heavens and the earth, but this is not the whole picture.  The Father clearly had a prominent role to play in creation as well.

Is it then contradictory to suggest that the Father created the world, while at the same time affirming that Christ created the world? Not at all. In his Systematic Theology, Millard Erickson uses the helpful illustration of building construction to demonstrate how various people in different roles can all be called “builders.” The contractor, the construction worker, or even those paying for the work can all claim to have “built” a house. This is the theological reality we see in Scripture. While we may see the members of the Trinity playing distinct roles in creation, they can all be said to have “created” the heavens and the earth. They are distinct persons, but they are all fully God, and worked together in fashioning all creation.

This is the picture we see in Scripture. But what is John saying in 1:3? What is his particular angle? Is he saying that the Logos created the world, or that God created the world through the Logos? In his commentary on John, D.A. Carson suggests that it may be preferable to render this verse, “all things were made by him.” He backs this suggestion by arguing that the pre-existent Christ as creator is a common theme in the New Testament. 

Leon Morris takes a different approach. He agrees that “John is saying that everything owes its existence to the Word,” but he advocates a “through him” rendering for theological reasons: “This way of putting it safeguards the truth that the Father is the source of all that is.”

Both Carson and Morris appeal to theological arguments to justify their preferred renderings. I would venture to say that the three English versions presented above are also theologically motivated. I have not seen any compelling case for one rendering over another from a purely linguistic standpoint. This verse illustrates well that we cannot separate translation from theology. To do translation is to do theology.

Conclusion

Are the differences between these versions theologically significant? They are certainly distinct, but they are not all that different. They all point to the same truth, albeit from different angles. They do not contradict one another, and none contain blatant theological error. But the question remains: can we understand precisely what John intended here? I’m still mulling this one over, but one thing is clear: the Logos is front and center in John’s mind. We can attribute the creation of the world to his hand. The Father’s role in this event is in the background of John 1:3, if it is in mind at all. 


This article was first published on Ben’s blog, Finding the Right Words, on September 12, 2019.

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Tavis Bohlinger

Dr. Tavis Bohlinger is Editor-in-Chief of the Logos Academic Blog and Creative Director at Reformation Heritage Books. He holds a PhD from Durham University and writes across multiple genres, including academia, poetry, and screenwriting. He lives in Grand Rapids with his wife and three children.

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13 comments
  • Great article! My two cents worth is this. God the Father spoke…

    Genesis 1:3 And God said…

    Which harmonizes with John 1:3, which says…All things were made by Him.

    So, God spoke and the Word created. Jesus says He does nothing of His own will but the Father’s will be done. God willed the creation into existence and the Word, Jesus the Christ, accomplished the Father’s will.

    Simplistic? Maybe. Maybe not.

  • When the Bible speaks about Jesus as the “through-ness” of God, relative to creation, it is referring to God’s perspective of creation as comprehensive and complete. God created and called it good, yet knowing his entire creation would fail. So, why the declaration, “good?” Was he short-sighted? Quite the opposite. God was comprehensive and compete in his “sightedness.” But here we need to clarify that God’s “sightedness” should bot be understood (or rather misunderstood) to mean that God somehow sees ahead to “something that is going to happen,” as if on one hand things are “happening” and on the other hand God is “seeing” that they will. To understand correctly what is means that God’s view is comprehensive (omniscient) we must understand three things. God is sovereign; God is immutable; and God behaves according to his glory. In other words, God can do whatever, doesn’t change, and his “non-changing, whatever doing” is dictated by the impetus of his self-aggrandizing glory. That said, when he decided to create a physical world, which was certainly to fail, it was as good as created already (a result of complete nature of decision, sovereignty & immutability). And when it was created, it was simultaneously also an outworking and expression of himself (the purpose of his glory). This is where Jesus comes into the picture. He answers this question: How is creation perfect + certain to fail + created by God + who is sovereign + is immutable + does all things for his glory? Jesus. Jesus is the “through-ness” of creation in the sense that he answers this question. A creation that would fail was perfect because it would reveal God’s purpose (his glory). How would it do this? All those reconciled to him would reveal the glory of God’s grace & forgiveness– through reconcilliation– offered “through” Jesus. All those who would not be reconciled to him would reveal the glory of God’s righteousness through judgement– “through” opposition to Jesus (the initial state of man). Creation, from God’s essence was all-in-one simultaneous, as existing outside space & time. So, every single aspect of creation was created “through” Jesus– not as a component of creation or God’s plan, but rather as an inseparable whole. “Jesus” was not someone who happened in space & time from God’s perspective, rather He was always the through-ness of an indivisible plan which would reflect God’s sovereignty, immutability & self-aggrandizing glory.

    Hope this is helpful 🙂

  • I think this is an excellent example of the doctrine of inseparable operations. All that God does he does as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Acts may terminate in, or be appropriated to, one member of the Trinity, but all three persons act together, whether it be creation, the atonement, or the consummation.

  • Excellent article on the two renderings of the Logos. I agree that all three Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were all active as one when this was accomplished. Whether by him or through him is used in the Greek text, I see the distinction. I like to think of it as God the Father commanded it, the Logos went forth as the word to accomplish it, and the Holy spirit the power of God, seen it through. I love the authors rendition of a contractor building a House. Really hit home with me as an Engineer.

  • With all due respect and deference to to Linguistic Scripture Scholars, I am at a complete loss in how so many so easily dismiss the Divine Commands in Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19 not to add or subtract from Holy Writ.

    If clearly the Greek Text lacks “God”, how can any man of faith exegete “God” into the passage? How can others rationalize doing it? If it is not there, it is not there.

    The involvement of God The Father in Creation is already in Scripture: Col 1:16; 1 Cor 8:6; Heb 1:2 and elsewhere. Augmenting the text with what is not present is not only unjustifiable, it is disobedient to and, therefore, offends God. As if the wisdom of Man surpasses the “Foolishness” of God. (1 Cor 1:25) So much for contemporary Exegetes’ humble docility to The Logos and, Sola Scriptura. Nota bene. Pax Christi

    • And whence does TRINITY come? God the Son? Of the same substance, and so forth? Certainly not from solo scriptura! Strain at a gnat but swallow a whole camel, eh?

  • Thank you for your article. I would have been proper of you to look farther into the vaccine ‘schedule’ and what it entails before you start playing expert on something you obviously know nothing about. Such as the ‘other’ therapeutic injections that are part of the vaccine schedule. Plus, you don’t even know what is in the vaccines! This makes your article incomplete and a diversion from the truth which I sure you didn’t intend, but you did. Let me give you a few clues to your mistakes and hopefully you will delve further into the facts and apologize for your ignorance and correct the incorrect record YOU made. That is if your a true christian and not just a worm filled, whitewashed know it all pharisee.
    Here’s the scoop you need to knew: #1 Quantum Dot Tattoo, an invisible mark on the skin readable only by infrared light or a smart phone. It will contain the Covid19/21 Vaccine Schedule that will be part of your body, so you don’t lose it. Currently, school children may be the first for the injection. Please Google it. #2 Microsoft Patent # 060606, a Bio-Metric sensor with crypto-mining. This sensor is readable by satellite and can communicate with the person who has it. The chip reports the bodily functions of the human regardless of what it is, a health problem, a work movement or a worship pose. The crypto-mining is electronic money awarded or deducted according to the directions of the Artificial Intelligence. So, there you have it the MARK OF THE BEAST disguising itself as a VACCINE SAVIOR
    These vaccines change a mans DNA and make a person unacceptable to God, thus will be rejected for having a mark of the beast. Currently, the International Monetary Fund, UN, World Bank, etc., have concocted plans to mark us all or imprison us. In order to travel vaccine identification status will be required. Road blocks will be set up and manned by the National Guard who will do injections on site and they plan to have every American injected by May 2021. If you don’t know this, then you haven’t been watching the Operation Warp Speed briefings and you don’t know nothing.

    • Sky walker, In reply to your comment where you said, Quote, “So, there you have it the MARK OF THE BEAST disguising itself as a VACCINE SAVIOR.” Unquote. I have to say that your statement is not true. It says in the AKJV in Rev 14:9 Quote, “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his FOREHEAD, or in his HAND,” …Unquote. God did not change his mind as to where the mark will be. It is not in the shoulder but in the forehead or the hand.
      I hope that you will see that your statement makes God a liar to some people if you are saying you are correct. I hope that you will take the words of the Lord in Rev 14:9 as the truth.
      Have a wonderful day,
      Joey

  • Here is my thought on this:
    To accept the mark on the forehead: Is to Believe or buy into the Sins of the world,,,Materialism, Sensuality, Greed, etc.
    To accept the mark on the hand: is to act in accord with Sin. That is, to live a life of sin. The hand indicates action and doing works. Either Good or Evil. To accept the mark on the hand means in order to make money you will have to work for evil companies or people or to do work such as sell alcohol, sex, drugs, gambling etc….

    • Please remember, the Mark of the Beast is not implemented until the second beast of Revelation 13 is cast up on the earth and demands to be worshiped as God. The second beast has not appeared on the scene yet, so the vaccine is not the mark Sky Walker mentions. I am very suspect that the vaccination is being administered by the locust army of the 5th trumpet. In the 6th trumpet 1/3 of the men die. That is close to 3 billion people! Then we will see the two witnesses, who will be destroyed by that 2nd beast of Rev 13. Also, it is important to note people receive the mark, and that is not the same as accepting it.

      We as Christians should be more concerned that we are sealed with the seal of God referenced in Revelation 7 and 9.

      Here is a copy of a work I’ve shared with folks concerning the buying and selling restrictions:

      The Ten Virgins
      Mat 24:15 KJV When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (Is this Satan presenting himself as the bridegroom?)
      Mat 24:23-30 KJV Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here [is] Christ, or there; believe [it] not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, [he is] in the secret chambers; believe [it] not. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together. Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
      Mat 25:1-13 KJV Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. (They were ready to meet the bridegroom.) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. (Jesus said, “Go not forth.”) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

      Is the buying and selling of merchandise or of religious belief? Today, to become a citizen of Israel you must convert to Judaism. Turn the page and consider the referenced scriptures. Will this soon apply to the whole world?
      Buy or Sell
      Rev 13:9-17 KJV If any man have an ear, let him hear. He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints. And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by [the means of] those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
      Rev 3:18 KJV I (Jesus) counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
      Rev 14:9-12 KJV And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive [his] mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
      Mat 24:13 KJV But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Luk 21:19 KJV In your patience possess ye your souls. 8-25-2019

  • Much confusion comes from trying to make God three separate persons. A person, like God, has three distinct parts. We have a soul, a spirit, and a flesh body.

    Jesus was not at the creation. God said, let us (God, you, me, and every other soul) make man in our image. God’s flesh came about at the immaculate conception. Jesus was Emanuel, not Emanujesus.

    It is very simple, yet doctrines muddy the water and prevent people from seeing the Truth.

  • Who Are We?

    Gen 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was (became) without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
    ‭ ‭
    Isa 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I [am] the LORD; and [there is] none else.

    Job 38: 1-7 Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me. Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Where upon are the foundations there of fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

    Genesis 1:26-27 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

    Genesis‬ ‭2:1‬ Thus the heavens and the earth were finished (they were done) and all the host (mass of persons) of them.

    Genesis 28:12-14 And he (Jacob) dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

    John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. John 16:28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

    Ecc 1:9-11 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? It hath been already of old time, which was before us. There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.

    Matt 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Not, Jesus with us!)

    Matt 18:10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.

    Matt 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Notice: The word “people” is not used.)

    Luke 20:35-36 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
    John 14:7-11 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? … words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

    John 6:62-63 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

    Rev 22:9 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. Greek word “ Brethren”: From ἄλφα (as a connective particle) and delphus (the womb). (Connected via the womb?!)

    Revelation 21:17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel.

    Eph 1:1 – 5 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Greek word “foundation”: katabolē – a founding (laying down a foundation). Remember Job 38?

    1 Timothy‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭ And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”‭‭

    Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

    1 Cor 5:5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

    Heb 2:14-16 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

    1Thes 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

    Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

    Q: What is the meaning of life? A: To learn the value of love, and the consequence of death. 1John 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire. Pete J Revision: 05-03-2021

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Written by Tavis Bohlinger
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