The Firstborn of All Creation (Colossians 1:15)

Table of Contents

Purpose

In Colossians 1:15–17, Paul describes Jesus as “the firstborn of all creation.”

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth …, all things have been created through Him and for Him.
17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. (NASB)

The purpose of this article is to determine what Paul meant when he called Jesus “the firstborn of all creation:”

“Firstborn” (Gr. prōtotokos) literally means “the one born first” (prōtos = first; tokos = born). In Scripture, the word is most often used for someone who was literally born first.

However, in Jewish society, the firstborn son received special rights, responsibilities, prestige, and status. As a result, the term “firstborn” also came to be used figuratively for preeminence—that is, for the one who holds the highest rank or greatest importance.

Therefore, the question is this: Did Paul describe Jesus as the firstborn in the literal sense as first in time, or in the figurative sense of being first in importance?

Firstborn in the New Testament

The word prōtotokos (firstborn) occurs eight times in the New Testament. The other seven occurrences are:

Literal People
In two instances, the term describes ordinary people who were literally born first (Luke 2:7; Hebrews 11:28).

Firstborn from the Dead
Jesus is not only “the firstborn of all creation,” but He is also twice called “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18; Revelation 1:5). Jesus was not literally the first person ever raised from the dead. Therefore, in these passages, “firstborn” is best understood figuratively: He is the most important among those raised from death.

The Firstborn came into the World.
According to Hebrews 1:1, 6, God brought “the firstborn” (Jesus) into the world. This refers to His incarnation, when Jesus became human. It implies that Jesus was already “the firstborn” before His incarnation. In this verse, “firstborn” probably has the same meaning as in “the firstborn of all creation.” It can mean either first in time or first in importance.

Church of the Firstborn
Hebrews 12:23 refers to “the general assembly and church of the firstborn.” Since Hebrews already described Jesus as the firstborn (1:6), and since the New Testament does not normally use “firstborn” as a title for Christians, the phrase likely refers to Jesus. Here again, as in 1:6, the term could mean either first in time or first in importance.

Firstborn among many Brethren
God sent “His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3) in order to bring creation “into the freedom of the glory of the children of God” (Romans 8:21). Consequently, Jesus became “the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). The “brethren,” therefore, include both God’s own Son and those who become children of God through Him. The word “among” suggests that “firstborn” here means first in importance.

Conclusion

Twice “firstborn” refers to ordinary people in the literal sense of born first. All six other occurrences refer to Jesus. It is striking how often this title is applied to Him. Perhaps, when used of Jesus, “firstborn” is related to John’s description of Jesus as “the only begotten from the Father.” “Firstborn from the Dead” and “Firstborn among many Brethren” must probably be understood figuratively as first in importance. The other instances can be literal or figurative.

Literally, the First to Exist

This site understands Jesus to be both literally first in time and figuratively first in importance, but the question is which of these meanings Paul had in mind when he wrote “firstborn of all creation.” For the reasons below, this article argues that “firstborn” in this verse means that Jesus was first in time—the first being to exist.

(1) The Beginning of Time

In verses 15-17, Jesus is called “the firstborn of all creation” because all things were created through Him. Since the passage focuses on the creation event, which marked the beginning of time, the more natural meaning seems to be first in time.

(2) Before All Things

Verse 17 supports this interpretation by adding that the Son “is before all things.” “All things” may include time itself. Presumably, apart from God bringing forth His Son and, through Him, all things, there is no time. In the view of this site, while God is timeless, meaning that He exists outside time, the Son is eternal, meaning that He exists in time, but there never was a time He did not exist. Then, the Son was literally the first to exist.

(3) The Beginning of the Creation

Compare our verse with a similar statement in Revelation:

“The firstborn of all creation” (verse 15);

“The beginning (Gr. archē) of the creation of God” (Rev 3:14);

The similarity suggests that “the firstborn” corresponds to “the beginning.” Since Revelation 3:14 identifies Jesus as “the beginning of the creation of God,” and since this phrase concerns time, this supports the view that Jesus was first in time—the first being to exist.

He is the Beginning.

Both Revelation 3:14 and Colossians 1:18 identify Jesus as “the beginning.” This means more than simply that He was the first to exist. As Colossians states, the Son is not only first in time, but also the means through whom God created all things. Verses 16 and 17 add that God created all things “in (Gr. en) Him,” and still holds the universe together “in (Gr. en) Him.” In some mysterious way, therefore, the Son is central to the continued existence of the universe.

Jesus is not created.

“Firstborn” may mean either first in time or first in importance, but in both cases, “firstborn of all Creation” implies that He is part of “all Creation.” Even if “firstborn” is understood figuratively to mean that Christ is the most important being in creation, the phrase still associates Him with creation. Nevertheless, the following makes a distinction between Him and the created order:

(a) Because “all things have been created through Him” and because “He is before all things,? Jesus is also excluded from “all things.”

(b) In verses 15–17, “all creation” is equivalent to “all things.” Since Jesus is excluded from “all things,” He is also excluded from “all creation.”

(c) Similarly, “every created thing” worships “Him who sits on the throne, and … the Lamb” (Revelation 5:13). This distinguishes Jesus, the Lamb, from “every created thing.”

(d) Colossians 1:15 describes Him as “the firstborn.” Since He was “born,” He was not created. The word “begotten” means “born.” Jesus is the “only begotten from the Father” (John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:7).

This is a summary. For more details, see here.