Firstborn of All Creation

Here, in the expression “Firstborn of all creation” (Col. 1:1515Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)), as elsewhere (Psa. 89:2727Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psalm 89:27)), the title of firstborn is taken in the sense of dignity rather than of mere priority of time. Adam was the first man, but he was not nor could be the firstborn. How could Christ, so late in His birth here below, be said to be the firstborn? The truth is that if Christ became a man and entered the ranks of creation, He could not be anything else. He is the Son and Heir. Just so we are now by grace said to be the church “of the firstborn,” although there were saints before the church. It is a question of rank, not of date. Christ is truly firstborn of all creation.
W. Kelly