Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: September 2, 2007
JESUS – THE FIRSTBORN OF EVERY CREATURE
Ben Justice
Christ is the Preeminent One. This is the theme of the book of Colossians.
According to Col. 1:15, Jesus is “the first-born of every creature.” The word “first-
born” has given some people trouble. Some take the word to mean “created,”
meaning that Jesus was the first created being. In fact, this is one of the
hallmark doctrines of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who teach that Jesus is not an
eternal being, but rather was created by God. However, a careful study of the
word “first-born” reveals that it does not mean “created” in reference to Jesus.
The Greek word translated “first-born” is prototokos. This word is employed 9
times in the NT. The word is from protos meaning “first” and tikto meaning
“beget.” While in certain texts, this Greek word refers to the first in order of
birth (Matt. 1:25; Luke 2:7), it is not always thus used.
W.E. Vine, in reference to Col. 1:15, stated: “Col. 1:15, where His eternal
relationship with the Father is in view, and the clause means both that He was
the ‘Firstborn’ before all creation and that He Himself produced creation.” Vine
also noted that the word expresses “His priority to, and preeminence over,
creation, not in the sense of being the ‘first’ to be born” (Pg. 240-241).
What Vine said is correct. This is demanded by the context. Why is Jesus
referred to as “the first-born of every creature?” The very next two verses, verses
16-17, give the reasons:
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: (17) And he before all things, and by him all things
consist.
Why is Jesus the first-born of every creature? The answer is because “by him
were all things created.” Note that Jesus created “all things.” Now, if Jesus
was a created being, then did he create himself? Thus, the word “first-born”
can't possibly mean “first-created.” Rather, it refers to preeminence and
superiority over all creation.
It is quite unfortunate that in the “New World Translation” it inserts the word
“other.” Thus, it would read,
because by means of him all [other] things were created in the heavens and upon
the earth, . . . all [other] things have been created through him and for him. (17)
Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were
made to exist.
The insertion of the word “other” completely alters the meaning of the text. And,
there is absolutely no justification for it, as there is no corresponding Greek
word. Even the Jehovah’s Witnesses knew this. This is why they put the word
in brackets. Even with the brackets, there is no justification for it. In the 1951
and 1961 editions of the New World Translation, the word “other” was injected
into the text without the brackets. However, in the 1970 edition, brackets were
used. The insertion of the word “other” with or without the brackets is totally
without warrant; it does not in any way complete the sense of Paul’s statement,
but rather it completely changes the sense of the passages all together. It
actually demotes Christ from Creator to created.
The context of the word “first-born” demands that it not mean “first-created” but
rather means “superiority” and “preeminence.” Albert Barnes penned these
excellent words:
The meaning, then, is that Christ sustains the most exalted rank in the
universe; he is pre-eminent above all others; he is at the head of all things. The
expression does not mean that he was “begotten before all creatures,” as it is
often explained, but refers to the simple fact over the creation (Pg. 247).
In v. 18, the word “first-born” is used again, wherein Paul stated, “And he is the
head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; that in
all things he might have the pre-eminence.” Certainly, Christ was not the first one
ever to be raised from the dead. Christ is “first-born from the dead” in that he
demonstrated his power over the grave. Jesus was raised to die no more. So, if
“first-born” means “first to be created” in Col. 1:15, does “first-born” mean in v.
18 that Jesus was the first to be raised from the dead? Even Jehovah’s
Witnesses will not concede that.
Some passages from the OT are also helpful in this regard. Note:
Exodus 4:22 — “And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my
son, even my firstborn:” In the literal sense, Israel (also known as Jacob) was not
the first to be born; Esau was. Actually, Israel in this passage refers to the
nation. Israel was not the first nation in point of time. Other nations preceded
Israel. But, the nation of Israel was the firstborn in the plan and purpose of
God. Thus, the word denotes Israel’s preeminence and superiority over all
nations.
In Jer. 31:9, “Ephraim” is called the Lord’s “firstborn.” “Ephraim” is used a
symbol for the kingdom of Israel. Literally speaking, Manasseh was the firstborn
(Gen. 48:14). Thus, in this context, “firstborn” is employed as a designation for
primacy (cf. Gen. 48:17-20).
Psalm 89:27 — “Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the
earth.” This is a very significant verse. The reference is to David. However,
literally speaking, David was not the firstborn in point of time. This passage is a
prophetic reference to the Messiah, David’s offspring. Notice the language
carefully. It is future tense. God would appoint one (future tense) as a
“firstborn.” The fact that the future tense is employed is conclusive proof that a
point of origin is not in view, but rather superiority and preeminence is clearly in
view.
Another sugar stick of Jehovah’s Witnesses is Rev. 3:14, where Jesus referred to
himself as “the beginning of the creation of God.” What does this expression
mean? It can’t mean that Jesus was a created being. “Beginning” is the
translation of the Greek word arche. This word refers to the first cause of a thing
referring to the originating source. Christ, then, is the cause of creation — not
that he was the first to be created.
It is interesting that in Rev. 22:13, Christ refers to himself as the “beginning and
the end.” Again, the word “beginning” is from arche. Now, get this: If “beginning”
means that there was a time when Christ did not exist, but that he came into
existence as the first being of God’s creation, does “end” indicate that there will
be a point at which the Savior will go out of existence?
One last final point needs to be made. Micah 5:2 is a prophecy about the
Messiah. It states, “. . . whose goings forth have been from of old, from
everlasting.” Jesus is an eternal being; He was not created as Jehovah’s
Witnesses affirm.