Was Jesus created since he is the firstborn of creation?

Answer:

In order to answer your question, we need to back up and examine what is meant when a person is called "firstborn." In the Old Testament, the right to be head of an extended family was passed down from one generation to the next. It was sometimes called "the blessing." You can see this in the blessing that Jacob received from Isaac. "Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be master over your brethren, and let your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you!" (Genesis 27:29). Generally, it flowed from the father to the eldest son in the family, but there were many exceptions to that rule.

Abraham had a son named Ishmael who was fourteen years older than his son Isaac. But since it was through Isaac that God's promises were to come, Abraham sent Ishmael out of his home and Isaac was considered to be Abraham's only son (Genesis 22:16).

Isaac had twin boys, but even before they were born, God stated that the older would serve the younger, thus indicating that the second born son would be given the blessing and hold the position of "firstborn" in Isaac's household (Genesis 25:23).

Jacob, Isaac's second born son who became the firstborn, also did not pass the blessing on to his eldest son because he committed incest. Nor were his second or third son considered because they were violent men. The right of the firstborn (the rulership) was given to his fourth son, Judah (Genesis 49:1-12).

Though Jesus was not born until thousands of years after the world was created, he is called God's firstborn. "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by 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. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:15-18). The phrase "firstborn" is just one of several emphasizing Jesus' position. He is above everything and in all things he has the preeminence. The emphasis is on his position and not the order of his birth.

In regards to his existence, Jesus is stated to be God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:1-3). As in the verse quoted from Colossians, this passage also states that everything made was made through Jesus. The implication is that Jesus could not have been created or made, else that statement would be false. Jesus himself stated that he was eternal (no beginning and no end) when he stated, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM" (John 8:58). In Revelation Jesus states, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Revelation 1:8). It is the same phrase attributed to God, the Father, in Revelation 4:8 and 21:6. See "Is Jesus God?" for further details.

Nor is the Holy Spirit a created being. He too is God. See "Where does it say the Holy Spirit is God?" for more information.