Was it God the Father or Christ who created the world? This can be confusing because there are scriptures that credit both. So who was it? To make sense out of this, an appreciation of Christ’s relationship to his Father as revealed in John 14:10 is invaluable. Asked by Phillip to show them the Father, Jesus replies, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.” What did he mean, “I am in the Father”? 1Peter 1:20 reminds us, “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”
We see that the Old Testament speaks of Christ in all kinds of types and prophecies to be fulfilled upon his coming. Though not understood until his advent, he was clearly IN his Father so far as God’s intention expressed by Isaiah 46:10b, “My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure.”
On the other hand, only when Christ begins his ministry do we begin to understand his words, “the Father is in me.” Jesus reveals all his works were not by him but of his Father IN him. One thing is certain—both the Father and the Son, each in their separate roles, are united in purpose regarding our salvation. The invisible God was the source; the visible man was the channel.
If before the foundations of the world, God intended to make Himself known through His Son, is it not fair to say that Christ was IN God—in His mind, in his purpose, in all He would do and say in the Old Testament? Then we should ponder this in respect to creation. Surely God was the source of creation, but must not Christ—as the one by whom God would be known-- be credited as sharing in it? How better than expressing His work as done through His Son?
Verses attributing creation to Christ make it clear he is the channel, not the source. Moreover, there is some question whether the “all things” include the creation of the world as set forth in Genesis 1 or refer to the new creation or “age” introduced through the Eternal Covenant fulfilled by Christ’s ascension. For instance, as noted in Eph. 3:9 and Heb. 1:2 below, the Greek word aion may be translated either as worlds or ages. If the world were meant, the Greek kosmos as used in John 3:16 would appear a more accurate choice. Admittedly, this is speculative but in keeping with the thrust of scripture.
Col 1:16 For by [better “in”] Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. [The Greek word “en” most often translated “in” rather than “by” which seems in keeping with other references]
Rom 11:36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
1Cor 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.
Eph 3:9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages* has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
Heb 1:2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds*
Finally,the principle of Divine agency should be remembered, that in many instances God credits the angel or man to be one and the same as Himself. Certainly this is true regarding Christ. God credits Christ with all His acts because he is the means by whom God has determined to make Himself known. “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself” (II Cor. 5:19).