The Watchtower wants its followers (and us) to believe that Jesus is a created being. One of their “proof texts” is Revelation 3:14 where their translation, the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (NWT) presents the passage this way:
“To the angel of the congregation in La·o·di·ceʹa write: These are the things that the Amen says, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation by God (NWT, 2013)
The problem here is the word “beginning” (“arche” in Greek). The Watchtower tells us that if Jesus is the beginning of creation, then He had a beginning. Here is their explanation:
Rev. 1:1; 3:14, RS: “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him . . . ‘And to the angel of the church in La-odicea write: “The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning [Greek, ar·khe´] of God’s creation.”’” (KJ, Dy, CC, and NW, as well as others, read similarly.) Is that rendering correct? Some take the view that what is meant is that the Son was ‘the beginner of God’s creation,’ that he was its ‘ultimate source.’ But Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon lists “beginning” as its first meaning of ar·khe´. (Oxford, 1968, p. 252) The logical conclusion is that the one being quoted at Revelation 3:14 is a creation, the first of God’s creations, that he had a beginning. Compare Proverbs 8:22, where, as many Bible commentators agree, the Son is referred to as wisdom personified. According to RS, NE, and JB, the one there speaking is said to be “created.”) (Reasoning from the Scriptures, WTBTS, 1985 p. 409).
Here they cite (not quote) Liddell and Scott’s Greek-English Lexicon (L&S). The reason they don’t directly quote this book is because L&S’s definition actually reads as follows: “ἀρχή ἄρχω I.a beginning, origin, first cause, . . . .” (See footnote for source). Their statement that L&S lists ‘beginning’ as its first meaning of arche is misleading. L&S places three terms in sequence as they are equally appropriate translations of the word, “arche.” So, L&S tells us “arche” may be translated as “first cause” or “origin”. L&S also tells us this in it’s definition II: “II.the first place or power, sovereignty, dominion, command,….”
At the end of the Reasoning book, quote above, the Watchtower claims three translations, the Revised Standard Translation, the New English Bible, and the Jerusalem Bible, all agree that Jesus is created according to Revelation 3:14. That simply is no longer true. While the Revised Standard Translation does translate “arche” as “beginning” in Revelation 3:14, the other two do not. They translate it as follows:
To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following: “This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation. (New English Translation, Biblical Studies Press / Casscom Media, 2017)
“Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea and say, ‘Here is the message of the Amen, the faithful, the true witness, the ultimate source of God’s creation:” (Jerusalem Bible, Doubleday & Company, Inc. Garden City, New York, 1968)
The Jerusalem Bible was released 17 years prior to the Reasoning book. Yet the Jerusalem Bible’s translation of Rev. 3:14 seems to be misrepresented by the Watchtower.
Scholar, Dr. Spiros Zodiates tells us more about the word, “arche” in Revelation 3:14:
“Christ is called “the beginning” because He is the efficient cause of the creation; “the head” because He is before all things, and all things were created by Him and for Him.” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary – New Testament, Crossways, 1992).
From the citation of the Reasoning book, the Watchtower does appear to understand the Greek word “arche” can be translated to indicate authority. Jesus is the ruler of all creation. He is also the “architect” (which we get from the Greek word “arche”) of creation. Here are some other verses where “arche” is translated as “government” in the NWT:
because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him+ and for him. (Col. 1:16, NWT, 2013)
So you have acquired a fullness by means of him, the one who is the head of all government and authority. (Col. 2:10, NWT, 2013)
He has stripped the governments and the authorities bare and has publicly exhibited them as conquered, leading them in a triumphal procession by means of it. (Col. 2:15, NWT, 2013)
Continue reminding them to be in subjection and to be obedient to governments and authorities,+ to be ready for every good work, (Titus 3:1, NWT, 2013)
From these verses, we can see the Watchtower understands “arche” to be an indication of ruling and authority. The New International Version agrees with that understanding and translates “arche” as “ruler”:
Revelation 3:14 (New International Version)
14 “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.
Another translation shows Jesus is the source or cause of creation:
Revelation 3:14 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
14 “Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: “The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Originator of God’s creation says:
So, don’t let the Watchtower persuade you that “beginning” in Revelation 3:14 means that Jesus had a beginning. Creation had a beginning, and Jesus is both the Creator as well as the Ruler over that creation.
* If interested, you can find the Liddell & Scott’s Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon here: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.04.0058%3Aalphabetic+letter%3D*a%3Aentry+group%3D102%3Aentry%3Da%29rxh%2F
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