He is… the firstborn over all creation. (Colossians 1:15)
the firstborn over all creation. A description of Jesus’ lordship over the universe. He is exalted above all. This statement does not make Him a part of the creation (since He created all things – v. 16 – and is Himself, therefore, uncreated), but the One who has sovereign dominion over it all (Heb. 1:2; Ps. 89:27).
the firstborn. Paul uses the word without explanation, as one whose meaning was already known to the readers. The simplest meaning of “firstborn” in the OT is that of priority of birth. Thus, many heretics (e.g., the ancient Arians) have used this verse to promote the heresy that Jesus was created. But this cannot be the meaning here – as if Jesus were the first created of all things – since He was eternally uncreated (v. 17). Thus, the secondary and derived meaning of “firstborn” – a designation of dignity and precedence, implied by priority (e.g., Israel’s election in Ex. 4:22; Jer. 31:9; Rom. 8:29; Heb. 1:6; 12:23) – must be Paul’s meaning. “Firstborn of all creation” does not mean that Jesus was ever created or “born” (with the exception of His physical human birth to Mary, Luke 2:7, 22-23), as the ancient Arians and modern Jehovah’s Witnesses assert, but refers to His rank, as compared with all creation, of firstborn in preeminence.
Paul’s context for the use of this term was the Old Testament. In Israel, the firstborn son had special rights and privileges including a larger share of the inheritance. In Ex. 4:22 and Jer. 31:9, the nation of Israel is called God’s “firstborn,” meaning that the nation was chosen by God to be the recipient of special privileges and blessings, as compared with the Gentile nations. This usage of the term “firstborn” as meaning the most illustrious of its class is found in other places. In Job 18:13 the “firstborn of death” is a deadly disease. In Is. 14:30 the “firstborn of the poor” means the poorest of the poor. In Ps. 89:27 “I will make Him my firstborn” means to invest Him with royal dignity, and clothe Him with preeminent splendor, so as to make Him exalted in majesty above all the kings of the earth. This is the sense in which Christ is called the “firstborn.” The term refers to His position, rank, rights and special privileges.
The expression “firstborn” here has no connection with the incorrect idea of Jesus being the “only begotten” Son of the Father (John 1:14, 18, KJV). If Jesus is “only begotten,” how can He be “first-begotten”? In John 1:14 and 18, “only begotten” should have been translated “unique” (cf. Paul’s reference to Isaac in Heb. 11:17 where the same Greek word is also translated “only begotten” in the KJV, whereas Abraham had many sons, Gen. 25:6).
All creation. Includes everything and everyone in every realm (v. 16).
