LESSON 7
THE FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE: AN EXPOSITION ON PAUL'S WORDS IN COLOSSIANS 1:15
You are welcome to another edition of Insights from God's Word, a Bible study programme that is committed to sharing God's Word by allowing the Bible to speak for itself.
In this edition, we continue with our series on The Godhead. The topic for this study is: "... the firstborn of every creature ...": An exposition on Paul's words in Colossians 1:15. The complete message in this text reads: "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature" (Colossians 1:15).
One of the popular interpretations in regard to the above text within Christendom today is that Christ is the firstborn of God's creation. That is to say, Christ was the first to be created by God, and therefore He is not eternal or divine in nature. But beloved, this teaching that Christ was the first to be created by God the Father is contrary to the principle of the unity of the entire Scripture (see John 10:35). This is because the Scripture provides several key evidences which attest to the eternal divine nature of the Son of God (see Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 43:11; Micah 5:2; John 1:1-3; Philippians 2:5-11; Hebrews 1:6-8; Colossians 1:15-18; Revelation 1:8).
Now, since the Scripture does not contradict itself, it is clear that the text in Colossians 1:15 will have a different interpretation instead of the literal assertion that Christ is the first Personality to be created. It is interesting to note that the word 'prototokos' which is translated firstborn in Colossians 1:15 can be interpreted in a variety of ways. It can mean the first born child in a family (see Luke 2:7) or it can be used to refer to someone who is preeminent in rank. In respect to the latter, we find several examples in Scripture as follows:
1) EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH
In Genesis 41, Moses records the account of Joseph's sons according to their birth as follows:
"41:51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house.
41:52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."
(Genesis 41:51-52)
Despite this clear birth order, God selected Ephraim ahead of Manasseh as His firstborn. We read the account from Jeremiah 31:9 as follows: "They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: FOR I AM A FATHER TO ISRAEL, AND EPHRAIM IS MY FIRSTBORN" (Capital Emphasis Added). In respect to God's order of rank, Ephraim instead of Manasseh was His firstborn, even though Ephraim was the last to be born. This is a clear example of such a case in Scripture where the word firstborn does not literally refer to the first one to be born but rather the one who is esteemed higher in rank; that is, the one who has the preeminence over all.
2) DAVID AND THE KINGS OF THE EARTH
The Scripture makes it clear that David was the youngest son in his family (see 1 Samuel 16:10‐13). However, the Lord spoke of him in the following manner:
"89:20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:
89:21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him.
89:22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
89:23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.
89:24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
89:25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers.
89:26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
89:27 ALSO I WILL MAKE HIM MY FIRSTBORN, HIGHER THAN THE KINGS OF THE EARTH.
89:28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
89:29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven."
(Psalm 89:20-29; Capital Emphasis Added)
In this prophetic passage, the Lord clearly pronounces that He will make David His firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. Clearly, this expression of firstborn has nothing to do with birth order but eminence in rank. For David was not the firstborn in his family, nor the first king of Israel. However, the Lord established him as his firstborn over all the kings of the earth. This passage in relation to David is also another clear case where the word firstborn expresses the idea of preeminence in rank as opposed to the literal interpretation of birth order.
3) ISRAEL: THE FIRSTBORN SON OF THE LORD
From Exodus 4:22-23, we read the following command that the Lord gave Moses to be given to Pharaoh concerning Israel:
"4:22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
4:23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me: and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy firstborn."
(Exodus 4:22-23)
In this passage, we see clearly how Israel; the firstborn son of God is different from Pharaoh's firstborn son. Israel is described here as firstborn because she was chosen over and above the rest of the nations of the world to be God's own peculiar treasure (Exodus 19:5; Psalm 135:4; Malachi 3:17), a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:6; Deuteronomy 7:6-8; Isaiah 61:6). It was God's plan that in elevating Israel as His firstborn, the entire earth will come to know and serve Him (Isaiah 2:3; Isaiah 43:10; Zechariah 8:23).
4) CHRIST: THE FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATION
Our key text in Colossians 1:15 makes the following statement concerning Christ: "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature" (Colossians 1:15). The context of this text helps us to understand that the Greek word 'prototokos' which is interpreted firstborn is used in the sense of preeminence rather than birth order. This fact can be seen in the following verses that follow our key text:
"1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist."
(Colossians 1:16-17)
Friends, these two verses that immediately follow our key text in this study provide clear evidence that the word firstborn is used for Christ in the sense of Him being preeminent over creation rather than the literal assertion that he was the first created being. For how could it be said of Christ that "16 all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things" (Colossians 1:16-17), if He was actually the first created being? It is clear that for anyone to interpret the word 'firstborn' as found in Colossians 1:15 in the literal sense as the first in order of creation is to render the entire passage incomprehensible.
5) From the scriptural passages we have reviewed so far, it is clear that the text in Colossians 1:15 does not teach that Christ was the first created being. On the contrary, when we consider the entire passage in context, we come to understand that Christ is the firstborn of all creation in respect to His preeminence over creation. It is interesting to realise that this understanding harmonises with several passages in the Old and New Testaments that prove the eternal divine nature of the Son of God.
Exhortation: In the Old Testament, the prophet Micah made the following statement in relation to the eternal nature of the Son of God: "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; WHOSE GOINGS FORTH HAVE BEEN FROM OF OLD, FROM EVERLASTING" (Micah 5:2; Capital Emphasis Added).
In our next study, we will consider the topic: "... the firstborn from the dead ...": An exposition on John's words in Revelation 1:5. The Bible Study references for this study are Revelation 1:5, 1 Kings 17:8-22, John 11:17-44, Romans 5:14, Romans 6:9, Revelation 1:18, 1 Corinthians 15:12-23, Colossians 1:18 and John 11:25. Please do well to go through these passages before the next study is released.
Stay blessed and keep shining for King Jesus.
Maranatha!
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