How Can Christ Be The Firstborn?

Of all the names given to Jesus in the New Testament, one of the most misunderstood is “firstborn.” To modern readers, this title might seem to imply that Jesus was a created being, just like us, rather than the eternally existent God.

In fact, some religious groups use this title to argue that Jesus is not truly God, but merely a created being. For example, a Jehovah’s Witness publication states:

According to the customary meaning of ‘firstborn,’ it indicates that Jesus is the eldest in Jehovah’s family of sons. (Reasonings, Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, 1989, p. 408)

What Does “Firstborn” Mean in the Bible?

In the Bible, “firstborn” can refer to the first child born into a family (Exodus 11:5; Matthew 1:25). However, the Scriptures also use the term to indicate prominence, honor, and authority.

As the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia explains:

The laws and customs of all nations show that to be ‘firstborn’ means, not only priority in time, but a certain superiority in privilege and authority. (ISBE, ‘First-begotten’)

For instance, God used this title to describe His special relationship with Israel (Exodus 4:22) and the tribe of Ephraim (Jeremiah 31:9). Ephraim was actually Jacob’s grandson, not his oldest son. Yet, God gave Ephraim the status of the “firstborn” because of the tribe’s preeminence (highest rank or importance) in Israel’s history.

Firstborn From the Dead

We see another example of this meaning when Jesus is called the “firstborn from the dead.” Historically, Jesus was not the first person to be raised to life. Elisha raised a young boy in the Old Testament, and Jesus Himself raised Lazarus and Jairus’s daughter.

Jesus is called the firstborn from the dead because of His ultimate prominence. By His resurrection, He conquered the power of death forever and holds ultimate authority over it (1 Corinthians 15:20-26; Revelation 1:5, 18).

Firstborn Over All Creation

The apostle Paul also calls Jesus the “firstborn over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). Because “firstborn” refers to rank, this means Jesus has supreme authority over everything that exists.

He was not created. Rather, He is the Creator of all things (John 1:3). John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus was in the beginning with God and actually was God (John 1:1-2). Jesus Himself claimed deity (being God) when He declared, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58; see Exodus 3:14).

Though He is the eternal Creator, He took on human flesh and died so that we could be saved. Truly, He is the greatest over all creation.

Firstborn Among Many Brethren

Finally, Jesus is called the “firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29). This title highlights Jesus’s preeminence (supreme position) within the church. As Christians, we are God’s children, and we answer to Jesus as our Lord.

Jesus is the preeminent brother because it is through His sacrifice that we are adopted into God’s family (Isaiah 53:10; 1 John 3:1). In Romans 8, Paul reminds us that God predestined (planned beforehand) for us to be conformed to the image of His Son, Jesus.

Summary: Honoring the Firstborn

To summarize, Jesus is the “firstborn” in three key ways:

• The greatest over all creation as its Creator
• The preeminent one over death through His resurrection
• The supreme Lord among His people, the church

Let us recognize His ultimate greatness and worship Him daily.