- Familial Meaning:
The eldest son; who usually received a double portion and became the principal heir with primary family authority after the father’s death.
- Representative Meaning:
“Firstborn” can refer to the one holding the highest status or the one given the place of honor.
In Scripture, someone can be called “firstborn” to emphasize supremacy and privilege, even when not born first.
Psalm 89:20, 27 (David, Jesse’s youngest)
20 I have found David, my servant; with my holy oil I have anointed him,
27 And I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
Context of Colossians:
- Church founded by Epaphras in Colossae (Turkey)
- Paul didn’t visit before writing
- The church is dealing with people teaching a false gospel that Christ is not enough:
They are teaching:
1. Human tradition (verse 8)
2. Dietary restrictions, festivals, new moon, Sabbaths (verse 16)
3. Asceticism (severe self discipline) (verse 18)
4. Angels and visions (verse 18)
Colossians argues:1. Christ is enough.
2. Christ is above all.
3. Christ is the source of creation, redemption, and reconciliation.
4. Therefore the Colossians must not be drawn away by any teaching that lowers Christ or supplements Christ.
Colossians 1:15:-20
The Supremacy of the Son of God
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
1. Image of the invisible God
2. Firstborn over all creation
3. Creator and upholder of all things
4. Head of the church
5. First born from the dead
Romans 8:18-1918 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
Romans 8:28-3028 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:23
23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
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