Terminology Tuesday: Firstborn

Greek expression: prōtotokos

Pronunciation: proh TAW taw kawss

Strong’s Number: 4416

KEY VERSES

Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15, 18; Revelation 1:5

Many cultures still value the firstborn child. This dates back thousands of years to Old Testament times. The firstborn was given priority or preeminence, as well as the best inheritance, by their parents. “Firstborn” can also be used figuratively to denote the most or best of something. For example, the expression “firstborn of the poor,” (Isa. 14:30, NRSV) means one who is supremely poor, or the poorest of the poor. Prōtotokos, the Greek word for “firstborn,” is used eight times in the New Testament, usually with reference to Jesus. He is called Mary’s firstborn son (Luke 2:7), the firstborn of all creation (Col. 1:15), the firstborn of the dead (Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5), the firstborn of God’s family (Rom. 8:29), and simply the “firstborn” (Heb. 1:6; 12:23). The intent of all these references is to show Jesus’ priority and preeminence. He had preeminence in Mary’s family as the oldest son, and He has preeminence in the church as the firstborn from the dead and firstborn of all God’s family.Jesus also has preeminence over all creation as the firstborn of all creation. This last expression has troubled interpreters for hundreds of years. From the Armenians to the present day Jehovah Witnesses, there have been those who used “the firstborn of creation” to teach that Christ was a creation of God and therefore not coequal with God. This needs to be refuted.

Let’s begin with an analysis of the word. The first part of the Greek word prōto can indicate “first in time” (temporal priority) or “first in place” (preeminence). In the context of Colossians 1:15, the second meaning is in the forefront. Thus, the Son of Man is the “chiefborn” among all God’s creatures (compare Exod. 4:22; Deut. 21:16, 17; Ps. 89:27, wherein the Greek Old Testament prōtotokos is used to express the idea of preeminence). Jesus is the foremost of all creation. The title “chiefborn” or “firstborn” as a description of the Son of Man indicates that the Son in His humanity is now the foremost creature of all creation. The designation in no way indicates that Christ is the first creature created by God, for the next verse asserts that all things were created in, through, and for Christ (Col. 1:15–17). As a co-participant in the creation of all things, Christ cannot be a created being. Instead, He is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Godhead, who has existed from eternity.
As the firstborn of all creation, He has priority over creation. As the firstborn of the dead, He has preeminence in the church. Thus, Paul concludes in Colossians 1:18, “so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything.” As believers, Jesus should occupy the “first place” in our hearts and nothing should consume us more than Him who has suffered everything to give us life.

Carpenter, E. E., & Comfort, P. W. (2000). In Holman treasury of key Bible words: 200 Greek and 200 Hebrew words defined and explained (p. 281). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.