Enquirer,
The answer to the question you pose: Was Jesus the first creation by God is No! Perhaps the Logos did come into existence first out of all God?s non-human Sons but such facts are not discussed in scripture. Such a teaching would simply be a guess or assumption. The Logos was not Jesus when such Logos came into existence so there can only one answer to this question and that answer is NO. The Logos did create man. This is discussed in the introduction of John?s Gospel. And when this Logos became flesh he became the "only begotten" (human being) of the Father as this Logos did not do this by himself. This Logos (Jesus at this time in history) was the ONLY HUMAN Being begotten by the Father personally. This much we know and because of the context of John?s gospel we do not know who created the animals as his introduction is limited to the world of mankind. Now look at what they are teaching more closely.
Enquirer: I am discussing this subject with a friend who believes this and who uses the passage in Col 1 vs.15-17 as 'proof'.
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Verse 14 and 15 pertain to the redemption. Paul is now writing after the fact, after our Lord was sacrificed and resurrected to human life once again. He is a Son yes but in a human image representing the invisible God. Here he is telling us that because of such shedding of blood that He is the firstborn of every creature (the first to be so redeemed or resurrected) that will live in this promised kingdom. This is after all a discussion of our hope in Christ and future life in such earthly kingdom. A testimony to our hope in Christ. Then Paul gives this interesting background history.
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Everything and everyone discussed in these verses is human. They are the powers of darkness out of which we were taken and described in verse 13. The entire human race of times past that consisted of such powers is now described. Here the word heaven simply stands for those ruling over such darkness and the earth are simply those ruled by such powers. Look at the verse like this:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, (the governments or rulers) and that are in earth, (those ruled by such heavens) visible (local ruler) and invisible, (distant ruler as was Caesar in Rome) whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: (all human areangements for maintaining order on earth) all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
This Son was the creator of this human race and the one that permits such heavens (both good and bad) to exist to maintain order here until this Kingdom replaces such powers. So then:
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
We have this hope assured in that over all things our Lord is preeminent.
Enquirer: He also uses John 8 v 58. It is of course a question of Greek interpretation. Is there anyone out there who is a reliable Greek scholar who could verify what these verses really say?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
Here the expression "Verily, verily" means an absolute truth follows: This truth is that Jesus existed (lived) before Abraham ever lived. As man?s creator this stands to reason. The fact that this Jesus did not exist as a human being at such a time is simply not discussed in this verse but live He did. Our Lord is answering the question "Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?" truthfully. John had already made such a point of our Lords prior existence at John 1:1-10 and the Jews if they understood prophecy should have known this.
The resurrected Jesus now has a dual nature, the nature of Man and the nature of the Logos. Taking back the body that was executed in our behalf does not change history. In fact He had the Father's permission to take it back as it would be needed in the Kingdom. Joh 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. He can therefore use either nature at anytime that He chooses. Notice that He did not use His human nature when appearing to Paul so that the incident cannot be confused with His second coming as a human being as described in Acts 1:11.
Joseph