Jesus, The Firstborn Over All Creation (Colossians 1:15-20 & Hebrews 1:6)
Contested Bible Passages
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Colossians 1:15-20
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(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.
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Hebrews 1:6
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(6) And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
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Problem & Response
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Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus was the first thing that God the Father (Jehovah) created, and Colossians 1:15-20 is often presented as a Biblical proof text for this belief. In Colossians 1:15-20, Jesus is identified as “the firstborn over all creation”. According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, seen as Jesus is God’s ‘firstborn’, Jesus was therefore the first thing that God created and brought into existence. If this is true, then Jesus cannot be the Second Person of the Triune God and the Trinity is clearly an erroneous belief. In addition to Colossians 1:15-20, Hebrews 1:6 also states that Jesus is God’s ‘firstborn’.
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However, Jehovah’s Witnesses are wrong in presuming that ‘firstborn’ must mean ‘first to exist’ or ‘first to be created’.
For instance, many nations existed before God established the nation of Israel. However, God refers to Israel as His ‘firstborn’ (Exodus 4:21-23). The same is true of King David. King David wasn’t the first human to exist (God created many other humans, Adam being the first, before He created King David), neither was King David the oldest son within his family (King David had seven older brothers), and neither was King David the first King of Israel (the first King of Israel was King Saul). However, God refers to King David as His ‘firstborn’ (Psalm 89:19-29). In both examples, ‘firstborn’ cannot mean ‘first to exist’ or ‘first to be created’, since this would exclude both the nation of Israel and King David.
The term ‘firstborn’ is often used in the Bible to emphasise the unique relationship that exists between a father and his son, typically the father’s oldest son. Upon the father’s death, the father’s oldest or ‘firstborn’ son received a twofold inheritance. Firstly, he received a double-portion of the father’s wealth in contrast to his father’s other sons. Secondly, he received the father’s patriarchal authority to govern and rule over the family in his father’s absence. As such, the idea of ‘firstborn’ entailed special privileges and governing authority, which the father’s oldest son was to fully receive upon the death of his father but which he began to share in during his father’s lifetime. However, these privileges weren’t always assigned to the oldest son, and the status and rights of ‘firstborn’ could be transferred to a younger male sibling. This was the case with Reuben and Joseph (1 Chronicles 5:1-3). Despite Reuben being Jacob’s oldest son, Jacob chose Joseph as his ‘firstborn’. Joseph therefore became Jacob’s ‘firstborn’ even though Joseph wasn’t Jacob’s oldest son. This shows that ‘firstborn’, although at times used literally within the Bible to mean first to be physically born (Exodus 13:1-16), can also be used symbolically to convey exaltation and privilege. When God describes both the nation of Israel and King David as His ‘firstborn’, God is emphasising the father-son relationship that God has established with each and the unique status that each now possesses.
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Regarding the nation of Israel, Israel was God’s ‘firstborn’ because God established a father-son relationship with Israel that exalted Israel above the other nations. The same is true of King David. King David was God’s ‘firstborn’ because God established a father-son relationship with King David that exalted King David above the rulers of the other nations (Psalm 2). In effect, God chose the nation of Israel and King David to be His ‘son’ or vice-regent upon the earth and to represent God’s authority and purposes to the nations. It is this understanding and application of ‘firstborn’ that should be applied to Jesus and Colossians 1:15-20.
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In Colossians 1:15-20, the Apostle Paul is describing Jesus’ exalted status as God’s appointed ‘firstborn’ over all creation. That Paul is using the term ‘firstborn’ symbolically rather than literally is clear from his statement that all created things were created by Jesus. If all created things were created by Jesus, then Jesus must be uncreated and eternal. If Jesus is uncreated and eternal, then Jesus must be God. This means that Jesus (in union with the Father and the Holy Spirit) is the Uncreated and Eternal God, who entered into human form as God’s Messianic Son and became the heir or ‘firstborn’ over all creation. This fits the context as Paul continues by emphasising Jesus’ complete rulership and absolute authority over all created things. Paul makes the same point elsewhere in Colossians (2:9-10) when he again stresses the divine-human nature as well as the unique ‘firstborn’ status of Jesus. An almost identical case can be made contextually for the use of ‘firstborn’ in Hebrews 1:6. (Hebrews 1:1-4, 1:5-14 & 3:1-6).
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Jehovah’s Witnesses are therefore wrong in presuming that ‘firstborn’ must mean ‘first to exist’ or ‘first to be created’, given that this definition of ‘firstborn’ doesn’t apply to either the nation of Israel, King David or Jesus who are all described in the Bible as God’s ‘firstborn’. Instead, the term ‘firstborn’ when applied to the nation of Israel, King David and Jesus, describes the unique father-son relationship that God has established with each. Contrary to what Jehovah’s Witnesses claim and especially with regard to Jesus, the term ‘firstborn’ highlights Jesus’ unique status rather than his supposed origins.
Bible Passages
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Exodus 4:21-23
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(21) The LORD said to Moses, “When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go. (22) Then say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what the LORD says: Israel is my firstborn son, (23) and I told you, “Let my son go, so he may worship me.” But you refused to let him go; so I will kill your firstborn son.’”
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Exodus 13:1-16
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(1) The LORD said to Moses, (2) “Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.”
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(3) Then Moses said to the people, “Commemorate this day, the day you came out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, because the LORD brought you out of it with a mighty hand. Eat nothing containing yeast. (4) Today, in the month of Aviv, you are leaving. (5) When the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites and Jebusites - the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey - you are to observe this ceremony in this month: (6) For seven days eat bread made without yeast and on the seventh day hold a festival to the LORD. (7) Eat unleavened bread during those seven days; nothing with yeast in it is to be seen among you, nor shall any yeast be seen anywhere within your borders. (8) On that day tell your son, ‘I do this because of what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ (9) This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the LORD is to be on your lips. For the LORD brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand. (10) You must keep this ordinance at the appointed time year after year.
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(11) “After the LORD brings you into the land of the Canaanites and gives it to you, as he promised on oath to you and your ancestors, (12) you are to give over to the LORD the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the LORD. (13) Redeem with a lamb every firstborn donkey, but if you do not redeem it, break its neck. Redeem every firstborn among your sons.
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(14) “In days to come, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ say to him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. (15) When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the LORD the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’ (16) And it will be like a sign on your hand and a symbol on your forehead that the LORD brought us out of Egypt with his mighty hand.”
1 Chronicles 5:1-3
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(1) The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (he was the firstborn, but when he defiled his father’s marriage bed, his rights as firstborn were given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel; so he could not be listed in the genealogical record in accordance with his birthright, (2) and though Judah was the strongest of his brothers and a ruler came from him, the rights of the firstborn belonged to Joseph) - (3) the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel: Hanok, Pallu, Hezron and Karmi.
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Psalm 2:1-12
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(1) Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? (2) The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, (3) “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
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(4) The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the LORD scoffs at them. (5) He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, (6) “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
(7) I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. (8) Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. (9) You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
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(10) Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. (11) Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. (12) Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 89:19-29
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(19) Once you spoke in a vision, to your faithful people you said: “I have bestowed strength on a warrior; I have raised up a young man from among the people. (20) I have found David my servant; with my sacred oil I have anointed him. (21) My hand will sustain him; surely my arm will strengthen him. (22) The enemy will not get the better of him; the wicked will not oppress him. (23) I will crush his foes before him and strike down his adversaries. (24) My faithful love will be with him, and through my name his horn will be exalted. (25) I will set his hand over the sea, his right hand over the rivers. (26) He will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, the Rock my Saviour.’ (27) And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth. (28) I will maintain my love to him forever, and my covenant with him will never fail. (29) I will establish his line forever, his throne as long as the heavens endure.
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Colossians 2:9-10
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(9) For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, (10) and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority.
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Hebrews 1:1-4
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(1) In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, (2) but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. (3) The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (4) So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
Hebrews 1:5-14
(5) For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father”?
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son”?
(6) And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
(7) In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.”
(8) But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom. (9) You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
(10) He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. (11) They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. (12) You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”
(13) To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet”?
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(14) Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Hebrews 3:1-6
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(1) Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. (2) He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. (3) Jesus has been found worthy of greater honour than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honour than the house itself. (4) For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. (5) “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,” bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. (6) But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.
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