Bible Question: Who were the firstborn? |
Bible Answer: Taken from PreceptAustin.org on Colossians 1:15 Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. THE FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATION: prototokos pases ktiseos: "He is the Firstborn, the absolute Heir of the Father, begotten before the ages; the Lord of the universe by virtue of primogeniture, and by virtue also of creative agency" by Lightfoot Translated literally like the NASB does, it implies that Christ is included in the created universe, which is inconsistent with the context of the whole passage. The NIV translation paraphrases "of all creation" as "over all creation" which conveys more clearly the idea that Jesus is not created but is the Creator. Recognize that this verse is where many of cults come to hang out like vultures seeking unwary prey not equipped with the truth and the sword of the Word. First they read you this verse in Colossians and then take you to Luke 2:7 where the same Greek word is used to describe how Mary "gave birth to her firstborn ,or prototokos, Son and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn." The cultist, be they Jehovah's Witnesses or other genre of false teachers, then conclude that "firstborn" clearly implies that Jesus is the first of several children born to Mary as Scripture reveals there were other children born to her, and thus Jesus is in that sense the first created being. One can see how there is some logic ,albeit flawed as discussed below, to their argument. Firstborn ,4416,prototokos from protos equals first, foremost, in place order or time; rank dignity plus titko equals beget, to bear, bring forth, can mean first-born chronologically, Lu 2:7, but refers primarily to position, rank, priority of position and emphasizes quality or kind, not time with the idea of "preeminence". Prototokos is used 8 times in the NT ,Luke; Romans; Colossians 2x; Hebrews 3x; Revelation. Prototokos is also used of Jesus in Col 1:18, Romans 8:29, Hebrews 1:6 , and Revelation 1:5 albeit these uses are in somewhat different contexts so be careful not to be confused. Vine helps untangle these uses by pointing out that in Col 1:18 and Revelation 1:5 ,note, “firstborn” refers to His resurrection, in Romans 8:29 ,note, to His position in relationship to the Church, in Hebrews 1:6 ,note, to His Second Advent when the word “again” is place in the right place ,the Authorized Version gives a wrong translation, making the “again” seem to introduce a quotation, instead of signifying the second time when God will bring His Son into the world. In both Greek and Jewish culture, the firstborn was the son who had the right of inheritance. He was not necessarily the first one born chronologically. Although Esau was born first chronologically, it was Jacob who declared the “first-born” in regard to the blessing from Isaac, Jacob speaking to Esau said "First swear to me"; so he swore to him, and sold his birthright, Septuagint translates Hebrew with Greek word prototokos, to Jacob." Gen 25:33. Similarly, Jesus is the One with the right to the inheritance of all creation, cf. Hebrews 1:2, note; Rev 5:1-7. The nation of Israel was figuratively called God’s first-born in Ex 4:22 and Jer 31:9. Though Israel clearly was not the first people born, they held first place or the place of pre-eminence in God’s sight among all the nations cf Deut 7:7. Solomon was the preeminent son of David, although he was not the actual first born "Sons were born to David at Hebron: his first-born, Septuagint translates with Greek prototokos, was Amnon" 2Sa 3:2 In Ps 89:27. Spurgeon’s note, God says of the Messiah, “I also shall make him My first-born,” then defines what He means—“the highest of the kings of the earth.” In Revelation 1:5, note, Jesus is called “the first-born of the dead,” even though He was not the first person to be resurrected chronologically. Of all ever raised, He is the preeminent One. Romans 8:29, note, refers to Him as the firstborn in relation to the church. In all the above cases, firstborn clearly means highest in rank, not first created. In no way does the title firstborn indicate that Jesus is less than God. In fact, the ancient Rabbis called Yahweh Himself "Firstborn of the World" Rabbi Bechai as cited in Lightfoot. In addition, the rabbis also used firstborn as a Messianic title writing that "God said 'As I made Jacob a first-born, cf Ex 4:22, so also will I make King Messiah a first-born (cf Ps 89:27)." Rabbi Nathan in Shemoth Rabba, cited in Lightfoot A T Robertson adds that "The use of this word (prototokos) does not show what Arius argued -- that Paul regarded Christ as a creature like, all creation, . . . It is rather the comparative, superlative, force of protos that is used." |