Firstborn

From: Doctrinal Definitions: A Handbook of Doctrinal Terms & Expressions in the New Testament By: Stanley Bruce Anstey

• 3 min. read • grade level: 9

This term is used in Scripture in two ways:

• To denote those who are born first in a family—birth order.

• To denote those who are first in rank and position, having a place of preeminence among others.

Some examples of the two ways in which the term is used in the Old Testament are:

ISAAC’S SONS—Esau was born first (Gen. 27:19¹⁹And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. (Genesis 27:19)), but Jacob (Israel) was given the place of preeminence as “firstborn” (Ex. 4:22²²And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: (Exodus 4:22)).

JACOB’S SONS—Rueben was born first (Gen. 46:8⁸And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn. (Genesis 46:8)), but Judah was chosen to have the royal lineage (Gen. 49:8⁸Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. (Genesis 49:8); 1 Chron. 5:1-2¹Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. ²For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph's:) (1 Chronicles 5:1‑2)).

JOSEPH’S SONS—Manasseh was first in birth order (Gen. 41:51; 48:14⁵¹And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. (Genesis 41:51)
¹⁴And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. (Genesis 48:14)), but Ephraim was given the place of being first in rank as “firstborn” (Jer. 31:9⁹They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn. (Jeremiah 31:9)).

JESSE’S SONS—Eliab was first in birth order (1 Chron. 2:13-15¹³And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, ¹⁴Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, ¹⁵Ozem the sixth, David the seventh: (1 Chronicles 2:13‑15)), but David was given the place of preeminence as “firstborn” (Psa. 89:27²⁷Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (Psalm 89:27)).

THE LORD JESUS CHRIST—He was born first in Joseph and Mary’s family (Matt. 1:25²⁵And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS. (Matthew 1:25); Luke 2:7⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7)) and He is also set in the first place, in rank and position, in everything in connection with the purpose of God (Rom. 8:29²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29); Col. 1:15, 18¹⁵Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15)
¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18); Heb. 1:6⁶And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (Hebrews 1:6); Rev. 1:5⁵And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5)). Thus, He is “Firstborn” in both ways.

Colossians 1:15¹⁵Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: (Colossians 1:15) says that He is “the Firstborn of all creation.” Being the Creator of the universe (John 1:3³All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3), etc.), when He came into the world (His incarnation), He could have no other place than that of Head of His own creation. Being the Firstborn among His creatures distinguishes Him as having a superior place to them. Colossians 1:18¹⁸And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18) indicates that the Lord is Firstborn in another way. When He rose “from among the dead,” He became the “Firstborn” of a whole new race of men (Rom. 8:29²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29) – “many brethren”). Since they are of the same “kind” as He is in new creation (compare Gen. 1:24²⁴And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. (Genesis 1:24)), they are entirely suited to be His eternal companions, and thus “He is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Heb. 2:11¹¹For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, (Hebrews 2:11)). As “the Firstborn from the dead,” the Lord Jesus is the triumphant Redeemer who now has the right to receive the saints’ praise and worship (Rev. 1:5-6⁵And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, ⁶And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6)). Revelation 1:5⁵And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, (Revelation 1:5) indicates that the Lord as “Firstborn” has the title and right to take the inheritance (every created thing) and to reign over it, which He will do at His Appearing (Rev. 1:7⁷Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Revelation 1:7)). (Hebrews 1:6⁶And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (Hebrews 1:6), in the KJV says “First-begotten,” but it should be translated “Firstborn.”)

As “Firstborn,” the Lord has many brethren under Him in His new creation race (Rom. 8:29²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)), but as the “Only-begotten,” there are no brethren connected with Him because that term denotes divine essence, which no creature can have or will ever reach. (See Only-begotten.)

THE CHURCH OF GOD—The term is also applied to the Christians. In the Greek manuscripts it is in plural, and is translated by W. Kelly as “firstborns [firstborn ones]” to indicate it (Heb. 12:23²³To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12:23)). This shows that those who have been called by the gospel today, and thus are part of the Church of God, have been set in a special and favoured place among all of God’s blessed creatures in His family (Eph. 3:15¹⁵Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, (Ephesians 3:15)). They have a superior place in the family of God—even above angels—with superior blessings that correspond with their privileged place! It is not that they are better than the others in the family, but because God has purposed to display “the glory of His grace” through them (Eph. 1:6⁶To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)). He has taken the lowest of men and through grace has set them in the highest possible place of blessing. (See Adoption.)

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