What does it mean that Jesus is the Firstborn over all creation?

Apostle Paul by the Spirit of God, referred to Jesus Christ as the firstborn over every creature. The apostle usage of the phrase, "Firstborn over all creation" has caused much controversy in time past and it's still polemical in our generation. Some people in their bid to explore the meaning of firstborn in relation to Jesus Christ, have unfortunately fallen into grave error to their own eternal peril, save they exercise saving faith in Christ. The Jehovah's witness for example, is a religious sect that vehemently do not subscribe to the biblical doctrine of the deity of Christ. Their view about the nature of Christ is in antithesis to what the bible really teaches about who Jesus Christ truly is. In the book of Colossians, the apostle wrote: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation (Colossians 1; 15). This text is one of their favorite scripture, which they often capitalize on to suit their belief and heretical teachings. They explain, "Firstborn" to mean "first to be created". In their view, Jesus Christ is the first person whom God created and has highly exalted him to the highest place of honor right next to him. But of a truth, Paul's usage of firstborn in relation to Jesus, does not in anyway convey the idea of Christ being the first to be created.

Let us look at the text once more: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Jesus Christ is said to be the visible image of the invisible God. God cannot be seen, but he has fully revealed himself to us in his Son, so Christ is the image of the unseen God. One of the disciples asked Jesus a question: Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us" (John 14: 8). This was Jesus reply: Jesus said to him, "Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? (John 14: 9). Jesus says, "He who has seen Me has seen the father". This is because, he is the exact imprint of the father in human form, he is the radiance of the father's glory, and the exact representation of his being (Hebrews 1; 3). In another place, Jesus said, "He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me (John 12; 45). Jesus could make such statement, because he is the visible image of the invisible God. This itself affirms the truth of the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Firstborn can mean firstborn child in a family, but it can also mean first in rank, preeminence or an exalted position. To ascertain the meaning of a difficult text like the one we are dealing with, it is imperative that we apply the laws of hermeneutics. One of the laws of hermeneutics is that we need to compare scripture with scripture, for that will help us to gain a deeper meaning of the text in the light of it's immediate context. Let us look at how, "Firstborn" is used in other places of the bible: Then you shall say to Pharaoh, 'Thus says the Lord, "Israel is My son, My firstborn (Exodus 4: 22). Firstborn in this passage does not mean that the Israelites were the first to be created, no, rather it means among the families of the earth, they were in a special relationship with God, they occupied the chief place in God's heart, whereas the other nations were rejected. In another place, it is written: "I also shall make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth (Psalms 89: 27). This a Messianic prophecy about the Messiah. God says that he will make the Messiah his firstborn, and he explained what he meant by firstborn, that he will be the highest of the kings of the earth. This means that the Messiah will be preeminent above all the other kings on the earth. 

And in the book of Romans, it is written: For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8: 29). Firstborn in this text does not mean first to be created, instead, it means that Jesus Christ is first in rank among many brethren. And in another place, it is written: He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything (Colossians 1: 18). Jesus is described as the "firstborn from the dead". It means he is the first to rise from the dead with a glorified body and never to die again. His resurrection sets forth a pattern for our own bodily resurrection. This shows Jesus superiority over the dead and the living and over death itself. So, when we examine the text in the book of Colossians, as it is written: The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Firstborn speaks of Christ preeminence over every creature. Jesus Christ is preeminent, he is superior to every living creature, and not that he is the first creation of God. When you look at the next verse, it is written: For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-all things have been created through Him and for Him (Colossians 1:16).

 The bible reveals Jesus Christ as the active agent through which creation came into being. We can see that Jesus Christ is the creator, and if he is the creator as the bible tells us, then how can he be both the creator and a creature at the same time? Unfortunately, this is how the Jehovah's witness translates Colossians 1; 16: because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. When you read carefully, it says "because by means of him all other things were created". They translated it that way in order to suit their false doctrine. 

What they meant by it is that, Jesus was first to be created and God used him to create all other things as well. Their translation is full of error, they have twisted many of the biblical text to favour their cause. But the unanimous testimony of scripture is that, Jesus Christ is not a creature as they assume, but he is the creator of all things and as such he is not part of creation. Apostle John agrees with apostle Paul when he penned down these words by the Spirit: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (John 1:1-3). Both God and Jesus Christ were co-agents in the work of creation. And in the verse seventeen, the bible says: He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). Jesus was preexistent before creation and he upholds the entire universe by the word of his power. Who can sustain such an office? Only God can, therefore Jesus Christ is God.

                  A thought to ponder 

 The bible reveals Jesus Christ as the active agent through which creation came into being

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