Hi Duane,
Question: As Jesus created everything via the direction of His Father, and God the Father created nothing of/by Himself.
How did God the Father create/birth Jesus? Is it that God COULD create things but CHOOSES NOT TO but rather gives honor to Jesus by instructing Him to created it and get praised for it; or God, "Who can do anything", but being a SPIRIT can't self-create Jesus. Who helped Him?
Rev 3:14 "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
The Son was indeed the "beginning of God's creation." Because it was by/through Him, the Son, that the Father would do the great work of this creation.
John 1:3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
As Ray said the Father birthed wisdom, this creation is His conception. And in wisdom the Father brought forth a Son to be the Beginning and the End of this creation. It's not a question that the Father cannot do this, this is the Father's work being accomplished through the Son by the power of the Father, the Holy Spirit.
Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
v. 16 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.
v. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
v. 18 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.
All of this creation is the Father's work by/through Christ.
John 5:17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working."
John 14:10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but
the Father who dwells in Me does the works.
John 10:32 Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shown you
from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?"
God the Father brought forth a Being, the Son, that is His exact replica (mind, character), but in a form and shape that His human creation could relate to and throught this Being the Father is doing the work of this creation.
John 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?
He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, "Show us the Father'?
John 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that
I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.
Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority
has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Rev 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.
mercy, peace and love
Kat