Jesus Christ and Creation — Apocalypse of John 3:14, part one

Rev. 3:14 Καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον· Τάδε λέγει ὁ ἀμήν, ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστὸς καὶ ἀληθινός, ἡ ἀρχὴ τῆς κτίσεως τοῦ θεοῦ·

Rev. 4:8 καὶ τὰ τέσσαρα ζῷα, ἓν καθ᾿ ἓν αὐτῶν ἔχων ἀνὰ πτέρυγας ἕξ, κυκλόθεν καὶ ἔσωθεν γέμουσιν ὀφθαλμῶν, καὶ ἀνάπαυσιν οὐκ ἔχουσιν ἡμέρας καὶ νυκτὸς λέγοντες· ἅγιος ἅγιος ἅγιος κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ, ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος.

Rev. 4:11 ἄξιος εἶ, ὁ κύριος καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν, λαβεῖν τὴν δόξαν καὶ τὴν τιμὴν καὶ τὴν δύναμιν, ὅτι σὺ ἔκτισας τὰ πάντα καὶ διὰ τὸ θέλημά σου ἦσαν καὶ ἐκτίσθησαν.

In the next few posts we will explore an Arian proof text Apoc. 3:14d ἡ ἀρχὴ τῆς κτίσεως τοῦ θεοῦ. To set the stage we should first look at two hymns from the throne room scene in chapter four. The first hymn chanted by the four living creatures does not mention creation explicitly:

ἅγιος ἅγιος ἅγιος
κύριος ὁ θεὸς ὁ παντοκράτωρ,
ὁ ἦν καὶ ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἐρχόμενος.

The third line is a exegesis of HaShem, YHWH the divine name which implies the notion of the Creator who stands apart from all others because He alone, is not created. The second hymn sung by twenty four elders is more explicit. HaShem YHWH ὁ κύριος καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν is worthy to receive glory and honor and τὴν δύναμιν followed by a ὅτι clause which introduces the grounds for the previous affirmation: σὺ ἔκτισας τὰ πάντα καὶ διὰ τὸ θέλημά σου ἦσαν καὶ ἐκτίσθησαν. The universal of scope of creation σὺ ἔκτισας τὰ πάντα is followed by providence ἦσαν and creation ἐκτίσθησαν as expressions of the divine will διὰ τὸ θέλημά σου. 

Here we see creation as a central feature in what R. Bauckham calls the “Divine Identity”. If you can say only one thing about HaShem YHWH ὁ κύριος καὶ ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν, you should say The Creator. That sets Him apart from all other kinds of beings that exist. He alone is Creator all others are creatures. This is the foundation upon which John builds his Christology so we must keep it in the forefront of all discussion of Jesus and Creation.