In Colossians 1:15, it is said of the Lord Jesus that He is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” Jehovah’s Witnesses use this passage to deny the divinity of the Lord Jesus. For them, Jesus is the first creation and therefore merely a human being. In the following text, we want to take a closer look at the term “firstborn.”
The Lord Jesus is the image of God, His perfect representation (cf. 2 Cor. 4:4). But in order for us to see this image, the Word needed to become flesh. That is why the Lord Jesus became human. Paul presents this glory in the expression “the firstborn of all creation” and at the same time shows the relationship between the Lord Jesus and creation. Let us briefly reflect on this. We begin with the expression “creation.”
All creation
The word “creation” describes something that has been founded, built, or created. “All creation” does not mean that there are different creations, but describes the sum of everything that has been called into existence, whether visible to the human eye or not. Creation always has a beginning (cf. Mark 13:19, 2 Peter 3:4).
When the Bible speaks of “creation,” it sometimes refers to the present material (first) creation (the universe) (e.g., Mark 10:6; Romans 8:19). In other places, it refers to the sum of humanity (e.g., Mark 16:15), and in still other places, it refers to the new creation that has come into being in Christ (e.g., 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Revelation 3:14). The context shows what is meant in each case. Our verse in Colossians 1 initially refers to the material creation, of which Christ is the beginning. The “new creation” is only mentioned later in Colossians 1:18.
The firstborn
The Lord Jesus is the “firstborn” of this creation. This does not mean that He is a creature or that He, as the eternal Son, ever had a beginning. When He became human, He entered into His creation—but without ever becoming a creature. The translation “the firstborn of all creatures” is incorrect because it suggests the false idea that He Himself is a creature. The truth is that He is the Creator.
The word “firstborn” is used in two ways in the Bible (in both the Old and New Testaments):
- In some passages, it describes someone who was born first in time. The word first appears in the Old Testament in Genesis 10:15 and in the New Testament in Matthew 1:25. In both passages, it refers to the birth of the eldest son.
- In other passages, it means that someone is the “firstborn” (or even made so) because he has a special position of primacy, dignity, or sovereignty. In this case, it is not a matter of time, but of primacy. Examples in the Old Testament include Exodus 4:22, where Israel is called the “firstborn son” of God. Here, there has not even been a natural birth. Rather, this term refers to the special position the people of Israel hold with God. 1 Chronicles 5:1-2 describes how Reuben lost his birthright to the sons of Joseph. Psalm 89:28 refers to Solomon as the firstborn, even though he was David’s tenth son. This makes it clear that these passages are about primacy, about someone who leads in a matter and takes first place. In chapter 14:30, the prophet Isaiah uses the interesting expression “the firstborn of the lowly [or the poor],” referring to those who are particularly lowly and poor.
So I will make him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
Psalm 89:28
Christ, the firstborn
The New Testament refers to a “firstborn” (as a noun) eight times. This word is used six times for the Lord Jesus (cf. Luke 2:7; Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:15, 18; Heb 1:6; Rev 1:5). Only in Luke 2:7 is reference made to his natural birth, for as a human being, He was indeed the first son of Mary. All other passages show us the Lord in His preeminent position above others—whenever He enters a particular realm.
- In Colossians 1:15, He enters the realm of human beings. He becomes human, and therefore He cannot be anything other than the firstborn of all creation.
- In Colossians 1:18, He enters the realm of a completely new (spiritual) creation through the resurrection. Consequently, among all believers who will one day rise from the dead, He is the firstborn from the dead. In this new creation, He has the first and highest place.
- In Revelation 1:5, He enters the realm of death. He did not die as a result of His own sin, but had to endure death because of His faithful testimony. He entered resurrection life without seeing decay. Therefore, He cannot be anything other than the firstborn of the dead. “The dead” can hardly mean all the dead, including the unbelievers, but rather those who were physically dead and will be raised to life at His coming.
- In Hebrews 1:6, He enters the realm of the coming kingdom of peace on earth. That is why He is presented there as the firstborn, the highest, whom God will once again (then in power and glory) introduce into the world.
For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:29
- In Romans 8:29, we find Him in the Father’s house. There, He is the glorified man, the firstborn among many brothers. He is not ashamed to call us His “brothers” (Hebrews 2:11). Nevertheless, He will also have primacy as a man in all things and forever. The Lord Jesus has thus entered into His creation. This happened when He became human. He was born of a woman. He took on blood and flesh when He became human (Hebrews 2:14).
Since the children share in flesh and blood, He likewise shared in their humanity, so that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.
Hebrews 2:14
He truly became human. At the same time, He was—and is—the eternal God and the Creator. Therefore, He can only be the firstborn of all creation. In terms of time, Adam was the first human, yet only Christ is called the “firstborn of all creation.” Adam could never have held this title.
English Bible teacher W. Kelly writes: “The truth is that when Christ became man and entered into the realm of His creation, He simply could not be anything else, for He is the Son and Heir. In the same sense, it is now by grace that we are the assembly of the firstborn (Hebrews 12:23), even though there were saints, that is, believers, before the assembly. It is a question of rank, not of time.“
Firstborn and Only Begotten
Although in some languages the words ‘firstborn’ and‘only begotten’ sound very similar, we must not confuse them. In the original Greek text, there are two very different expressions and titles of our Lord. The only begotten describes someone unique and incomparable in his nature, who therefore has no equal. This is the Lord Jesus as the eternal Son. Only John uses this title for our Lord (John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9). The firstborn, on the other hand, as we have seen, has to do with his primacy as a human being above all others. The Son of God must always have “primacy” in everything as a human being (John 1:15, 30; Col 1:18). We want to give him this primacy in our lives as well.