The book of Hebrews opens by telling us that God the Father “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” (Hebrews 1:2). and who “sustains all things by his powerful word” (verse 3, NRSV).

John confirms that Jesus was the divine Word through whom God created the universe: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3; see verses 1-3, 14).

Paul states quite clearly that “God . . .  created all things through Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 3:9). He elsewhere writes of Jesus: “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth . . . All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16). 

The Old Testament presents God alone as Creator of the universe (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 40:25-26, 28). When the early followers of Christ say Jesus is the One through whom all things were created, they are clearly saying that Jesus is God.

Jesus claimed to be all that God is, and the disciples believed and taught it. They understood that Jesus was “the express [exact] image of His [God’s] person” (Hebrews 1:3) and “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), and that “in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:9, NRSV).

They understood precisely who He was (and still is) from His own words and actions. There was no question in their minds. They had seen Him prove it time and time again. They would go to their martyrdom firm in this conviction.