Does Revelation 3:14 indicate that Jesus was a created being?

Revelation 3:14 says, "And the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation (ESV)."

Jehovah's Witnesses contend that one can logically conclude from these verses that the one spoken of in Revelation 3:14 "is a creation, the first of God's creations, who had a beginning" (Reasoning from the Scriptures, 1989, 409.)

However, as Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes explain in their book Correcting the Cults, this is clearly not the case:

"The Greek word "arche," translated 'beginning' in this verse, here carries the meaning of 'one who begins,' 'origin,' 'source,' or 'first cause.'  The English word architect is derived from "arche."  This verse says that Jesus is the architect of all creation (See John 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:2; cf. Isa. 44:24).

Furthermore, the same term, beginning, is applied to God the Father in Revelation 21:4-6.  It cannot mean a created being, or God the Father is also a creature, which Jehovah's Witnesses reject.  Hence, 'beginning' should be understood in the absolute sense of Beginner or Source of all things." [1]

Courage and Godspeed,
Chad

Footnote:
1. Norman Geisler and Ron Rhodes, Correcting the Cults, p. 305

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