There are many examples of the firstborn[PROTOTOKOS] as a separate, subordinate, and most of the time the actual first born member of a family. Let us look for examples where it is used mostly followed by the genitive like "of":
LXX Genesis 4:4 And Abel also brought of the first born of his sheep
and of his fatlings, and God looked upon Abel and his gifts,
LXX Genesis 25:13 And these are the names of the sons of Ismael, according
to the names of their generations. The firstborn of Ismael, Nabaioth,
and Kedar, and Nabdeel, and Massam,
LXX Genesis 27:19 And Jacob said to his father, I, Esau thy
first-born, have done as thou toldest me; rise, sit, and eat of my
venison, that they soul may bless me.
LXX Genesis 35:23 The sons of Lea, the first-born of Jacob; Ruben,
Symeon, Levi, Judas, Issachar, Zabulon.
LXX Genesis 36:15 These are the chiefs of the son of Esau, even the sons of
Eliphas, the first-born of Esau; chief Thaeman, chief Omar, chief
Sophar, chief Kenez,
LXX Genesis 38:6 And Judas took a wife for Er his first-born, whose
name was Thamar.
LXX Genesis 38:7 And Er, the first-born of Judas, was wicked before
the Lord; and God killed him.
LXX Genesis 46:8 And these are the names of the sons of Israel that went
into Egypt with their father Jacob-- Jacob and his sons. The first-born
of Jacob, Ruben.
LXX Genesis 49:3 Ruben, thou art my first-born, thou my strength, and
the first of my children, hard to be endured, hard and self-willed.
LXX Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say to Pharao, These things saith the Lord,
Israel is my first-born.
LXX Exodus 6:14 And these are the heads of the houses of their families: the
sons of Ruben the first-born of Israel; Enoch and Phallus, Asron, and
Charmi, this is the kindred of Ruben.
LXX Exodus 11:5 And every first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from
the first-born of Pharao that sits on the throne, even to the
first-born of the woman-servant that is by the mill, and to the
first-born of all cattle.
LXX Exodus 12:29 And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord smote all the
first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharao that
sat on the throne, to the first-born of the captive-maid in the
dungeon, and the first-born of all cattle.
LXX Exodus 13:13 Every offspring opening the womb of the ass thou shalt
change for a sheep; and if thou wilt not change it, thou shalt redeem it:
every first-born of man of thy sons shalt thou redeem.
LXX Exodus 13:15 And when Pharao hardened his heart so as not to send us
away, he slew every first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born
of man and the first-born of beast; therefore do I sacrifice
every offspring that opens the womb, the males to the Lord, and every
first-born of my sons I will redeem.
LXX Exodus 22:29 Thou shalt not keep back the first-fruits of thy threshing
floor and press. The first-born of thy sons thou shalt give to me.
LXX Exodus 34:19 The males are mine, everything that opens the womb; every
first-born of oxen, and every first-born of sheep.
LXX Exodus 34:20 And the first-born of an ass thou shalt redeem with
a sheep, and if thou wilt not redeem it thou shalt pay a price: every
first-born of thy sons shalt thou redeem: thou shalt not appear
before me empty.
LXX Numbers 1:20 And the sons of Ruben the first-born of Israel
according to their kindreds, according to their divisions, according to the
houses of their families, according to the number of their names, according
to their heads, were-- all males from twenty years old and upward, every one
that went out with the host--
LXX Numbers 3:40 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Count every
first-born male of the children of Israel from a month old and upwards,
and take the number by name.
LXX Numbers 3:41 And thou shalt take the Levites for me-- I am the Lord--
instead of all the first-born of the sons of Israel, and the cattle
of the Levites instead of all the first-born among the cattle of the
children of Israel.
LXX Numbers 3:45 Take the Levites instead of all the first-born of the
sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle,
and the Levites shall be mine; I am the Lord.
LXX Numbers 3:46 And for the ransoms of the two hundred and seventy-three
which exceed the Levites in number of the first-born of the sons of
Israel;
LXX Numbers 3:50 He took the silver from the first-born of the sons of
Israel, a thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to
the holy shekel.
LXX Numbers 8:16 For these are given to me for a present out of the midst of
the children of Israel: I have taken them to myself instead of all the
first-born of the sons of Israel that open every womb.
LXX Numbers 8:17 For every first-born among the children of Israel is
mine, whether of man or beast: in the day in which I smote every
first-born in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them to myself.
LXX Numbers 18:15 And every thing that opens the womb of all flesh,
whatsoever they bring to the Lord, whether man or beast, shall be thine:
only the first-born of men shall be surely redeemed, and thou shalt
redeem the first-born of unclean cattle.
LXX Numbers 18:17 But thou shalt not redeem the first-born of calves
and the first-born of sheep and the first-born of goats;
they are holy: and thou shalt pour their blood upon the altar, and thou
shalt offer the fat as a burnt-offering for a smell of sweet savour to the
Lord.
LXX Numbers 26:5 Ruben was the first-born of Israel: and the sons of
ruben, Enoch, and the family of Enoch; to Phallu belongs the family of the
Phalluites.
LXX Deuteronomy 12:6 And ye shall carry thither your whole-burnt-offerings,
and your sacrifices, and your first-fruits, and your vowed-offerings, and
your freewill-offerings, and your offerings of thanksgiving, the
first-born of your herds, and of your flocks.
LXX Deuteronomy 12:17 Thou shalt not be able to eat in thy cities the tithe
of thy corn, and of thy wine, and of thine oil, the first-born of thine
herd and of thy flock, and all your vows as many as ye shall have
vowed, and your thank-offerings, and the first-fruits of thine hands.
LXX Deuteronomy 14:23 And thou shalt eat it in the place which the Lord thy
God shall choose to have his name called there; ye shall bring the tithe of
thy corn and of thy wine, and of thine oil, the first-born of thy herd
and of thy flock, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God
always.
LXX Deuteronomy 15:19 Every first-born that shall be born among thy kine and
thy sheep, thou shalt sanctify the males to the Lord thy God; thou shalt not
work with thy first-born calf, and thou shalt not shear the first-born of
thy sheep.
LXX Deuteronomy 33:17 His beauty is as the firstling of his bull, his
horns are the horns of a unicorn; with them he shall thrust the nations at
once, even from the end of the earth: these are the ten thousands of
Ephraim, and these are the thousands of Manasse.
LXX Joshua 6:26 And Joshua adjured them on that day before the Lord, saying,
Cursed be the man who shall build that city: he shall lay the foundation of
it in his first-born, and he shall set up the gates of it in his
youngest son. And so did Hozan of Baethel; he laid the foundation in Abiron
his first-born, and set up the gates of it in his youngest surviving son.
LXX Joshua 17:1 And the borders of the tribe of the children of Manasse,
(for he was the first-born of Joseph) assigned to Machir the
firstborn of Manasse the father of Galaad, for he was a warrior, were
in the land of Galaad and of Basan.
LXX 2 Samuel 3:2 And sons were born to David in Chebron: and his
first-born was Ammon the son of Achinoom the Jezraelitess.
LXX 2 Samuel 13:21 And king David heard of all these things, and was very
angry; but he did not grieve the spirit of his son Amnon, because be loved
him, for he was his first-born.
LXX 1 Kings 16:34 And in his days Achiel the Baethelite built Jericho; he
laid the foundation of it in Abiron his first-born, and he set up the
doors of it in Segub his younger son, according to the word of the Lord
which he spoke by Joshua the son of Naue.
LXX 1 Chronicles 1:29 And these are their generations: the first-born of
Ismael, Nabaeoth, and Kedar, Nabdeel, Massam,
LXX 1 Chronicles 2:3 The sons of Juda; Er, Aunan, Selom. These three were
born to him of the daughter of Sava the Chananitish woman: and Er, the
first-born of Juda, was wicked before the Lord, and he slew him.
LXX 1 Chronicles 2:13 And Jessae begot his first-born Eliab, Aminadab
was the second, Samaa the third,
LXX 1 Chronicles 2:25 And the sons of Jerameel the first-born of Esron
were, the first-born Ram, and Banaa, and Aram, and Asan his brother.
LXX 1 Chronicles 2:27 And the sons of Ram the first-born of Jerameel
were Maas, and Jamin, and Acor.
LXX 1 Chronicles 2:42 And the sons of Chaleb the brother of Jerameel were,
Marisa his first-born, he is the father of Ziph:-- and the sons of
Marisa the father of Chebron.
LXX 1 Chronicles 2:50 These were the sons of Chaleb: the sons of Or the
first-born of Ephratha; Sobal the father of Cariathiarim,
LXX 1 Chronicles 3:15 And the sons of Josia; the first-born Joanan,
the second Joakim, the third Sedekias, the fourth Salum.
LXX 1 Chronicles 4:4 And Phanuel the father of Gedor, and Jazer the father
of Osan: these are the sons of Or, the first-born of Ephratha, the
father of Baethalaen.
LXX 1 Chronicles 5:1 And the sons of Ruben the first-born of Israel
(for he was the first-born; but because of his going up to his father's
couch, his father gave his blessing to his son Joseph, even the son Israel;
and he was not reckoned as first-born;
LXX 1 Chronicles 5:3 The sons of Ruben the first-born of Israel;
Enoch, and Phallus, Asrom, and Charmi.
LXX 1 Chronicles 6:28 The sons of Samuel; the first-born Sani, and
Abia.
LXX 1 Chronicles 8:1 Now Benjamin begot Bale his first-born, and
Asbel his second son, Aara the third, Noa the fourth,
LXX 1 Chronicles 8:30 And her first-born son was Abdon, and Sur, and
Kis, and Baal, and Nadab, and Ner,
LXX 1 Chronicles 8:38 And Esel had six sons, and these were their name;
Ezricam his first-born, and Ismael, and Saraia, and Abdia, and Anan,
and Asa: all these were the sons of Esel.
LXX 1 Chronicles 8:39 And the sons of Asel his brother; AElam his
first-born, and Jas the second, and Eliphalet the third.
LXX 1 Chronicles 9:5 And of the Selonites; Asaia his first-born, and
his sons.
LXX 1 Chronicles 9:36 And his first-born son was Abdon, and he had
Sur, and Kis, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,
LXX 1 Chronicles 9:44 And Esel had six sons, and these were their names;
Esricam his first-born, and Ismael, and Saraia, and Abdia, and Anan,
and Asa: these were the sons of Esel.
LXX 1 Chronicles 26:6 And to Samaias his son were born the sons of his
first-born, chiefs over the house of their father, for they were mighty.
LXX Nehemiah 10:36 the first-born of our sons, and of our
cattle, as it is written in the law, and the first-born of our herds
and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, for the
priests that minister in the house of our God.
LXX Psalm 135:8 Who smote the first-born of Egypt, both man and
beast.
LXX Psalm 136:10 To him who smote Egypt with their first-born; for
his mercy endures for ever.
LXX Jeremiah 31:9 (38:9) They went forth with weeping, and I will bring them
back with consolation, causing them to lodge by the channels of waters in a
straight way, and they shall not err in it: for I am become a father to
Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born.
LXX Micah 6:7 Will the Lord accept thousands of rams, or ten thousands of
fat goats? should I give my first-born for ungodliness, the fruit of
my body for the sin of my soul?
It should be noted too, that Jesus, unlike Ephraim, Jacob and Israel, was never GIVEN the title of "firstborn". He was simply spoken of as firstborn in the temporal sense in passages like the ones at Col. 1:15, 18, Heb. 1:6, Rev. 1:5 and Romans 8:29.
When this changes, "the firstborn of" is used as part of a group. If it is "the firstborn of" Israel(Ex. 6:14), it is one of the sons of Israel, if it is "the firstborn of" Pharoah(Ex. 11:5) it is a member of the house of Pharoah, if it is "the firstborn of" beasts(Ex. 13:15) then it is an animal also. Why then should this rule be changed as it applies to "the firstborn of" creation? Obviously Jesus is a created being, as he was historically always thought to be the Wisdom of Proverbs.
Verses used are from the English Translation of The Septuagint Version of the Old Testament by Sir Lancelot C. L. Brenton, 1844, 1851.
See: http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/default.asp
LXX Genesis 4:4 And Abel also brought of the first born of his sheep
and of his fatlings, and God looked upon Abel and his gifts,
LXX Genesis 25:13 And these are the names of the sons of Ismael, according
to the names of their generations. The firstborn of Ismael, Nabaioth,
and Kedar, and Nabdeel, and Massam,
LXX Genesis 27:19 And Jacob said to his father, I, Esau thy
first-born, have done as thou toldest me; rise, sit, and eat of my
venison, that they soul may bless me.
LXX Genesis 35:23 The sons of Lea, the first-born of Jacob; Ruben,
Symeon, Levi, Judas, Issachar, Zabulon.
LXX Genesis 36:15 These are the chiefs of the son of Esau, even the sons of
Eliphas, the first-born of Esau; chief Thaeman, chief Omar, chief
Sophar, chief Kenez,
LXX Genesis 38:6 And Judas took a wife for Er his first-born, whose
name was Thamar.
LXX Genesis 38:7 And Er, the first-born of Judas, was wicked before
the Lord; and God killed him.
LXX Genesis 46:8 And these are the names of the sons of Israel that went
into Egypt with their father Jacob-- Jacob and his sons. The first-born
of Jacob, Ruben.
LXX Genesis 49:3 Ruben, thou art my first-born, thou my strength, and
the first of my children, hard to be endured, hard and self-willed.
LXX Exodus 4:22 And thou shalt say to Pharao, These things saith the Lord,
Israel is my first-born.
LXX Exodus 6:14 And these are the heads of the houses of their families: the
sons of Ruben the first-born of Israel; Enoch and Phallus, Asron, and
Charmi, this is the kindred of Ruben.
LXX Exodus 11:5 And every first-born in the land of Egypt shall die, from
the first-born of Pharao that sits on the throne, even to the
first-born of the woman-servant that is by the mill, and to the
first-born of all cattle.
LXX Exodus 12:29 And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord smote all the
first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharao that
sat on the throne, to the first-born of the captive-maid in the
dungeon, and the first-born of all cattle.
LXX Exodus 13:13 Every offspring opening the womb of the ass thou shalt
change for a sheep; and if thou wilt not change it, thou shalt redeem it:
every first-born of man of thy sons shalt thou redeem.
LXX Exodus 13:15 And when Pharao hardened his heart so as not to send us
away, he slew every first-born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born
of man and the first-born of beast; therefore do I sacrifice
every offspring that opens the womb, the males to the Lord, and every
first-born of my sons I will redeem.
LXX Exodus 22:29 Thou shalt not keep back the first-fruits of thy threshing
floor and press. The first-born of thy sons thou shalt give to me.
LXX Exodus 34:19 The males are mine, everything that opens the womb; every
first-born of oxen, and every first-born of sheep.
LXX Exodus 34:20 And the first-born of an ass thou shalt redeem with
a sheep, and if thou wilt not redeem it thou shalt pay a price: every
first-born of thy sons shalt thou redeem: thou shalt not appear
before me empty.
LXX Numbers 1:20 And the sons of Ruben the first-born of Israel
according to their kindreds, according to their divisions, according to the
houses of their families, according to the number of their names, according
to their heads, were-- all males from twenty years old and upward, every one
that went out with the host--
LXX Numbers 3:40 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Count every
first-born male of the children of Israel from a month old and upwards,
and take the number by name.
LXX Numbers 3:41 And thou shalt take the Levites for me-- I am the Lord--
instead of all the first-born of the sons of Israel, and the cattle
of the Levites instead of all the first-born among the cattle of the
children of Israel.
LXX Numbers 3:45 Take the Levites instead of all the first-born of the
sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle,
and the Levites shall be mine; I am the Lord.
LXX Numbers 3:46 And for the ransoms of the two hundred and seventy-three
which exceed the Levites in number of the first-born of the sons of
Israel;
LXX Numbers 3:50 He took the silver from the first-born of the sons of
Israel, a thousand three hundred and sixty-five shekels, according to
the holy shekel.
LXX Numbers 8:16 For these are given to me for a present out of the midst of
the children of Israel: I have taken them to myself instead of all the
first-born of the sons of Israel that open every womb.
LXX Numbers 8:17 For every first-born among the children of Israel is
mine, whether of man or beast: in the day in which I smote every
first-born in the land of Egypt, I sanctified them to myself.
LXX Numbers 18:15 And every thing that opens the womb of all flesh,
whatsoever they bring to the Lord, whether man or beast, shall be thine:
only the first-born of men shall be surely redeemed, and thou shalt
redeem the first-born of unclean cattle.
LXX Numbers 18:17 But thou shalt not redeem the first-born of calves
and the first-born of sheep and the first-born of goats;
they are holy: and thou shalt pour their blood upon the altar, and thou
shalt offer the fat as a burnt-offering for a smell of sweet savour to the
Lord.
LXX Numbers 26:5 Ruben was the first-born of Israel: and the sons of
ruben, Enoch, and the family of Enoch; to Phallu belongs the family of the
Phalluites.
LXX Deuteronomy 12:6 And ye shall carry thither your whole-burnt-offerings,
and your sacrifices, and your first-fruits, and your vowed-offerings, and
your freewill-offerings, and your offerings of thanksgiving, the
first-born of your herds, and of your flocks.
LXX Deuteronomy 12:17 Thou shalt not be able to eat in thy cities the tithe
of thy corn, and of thy wine, and of thine oil, the first-born of thine
herd and of thy flock, and all your vows as many as ye shall have
vowed, and your thank-offerings, and the first-fruits of thine hands.
LXX Deuteronomy 14:23 And thou shalt eat it in the place which the Lord thy
God shall choose to have his name called there; ye shall bring the tithe of
thy corn and of thy wine, and of thine oil, the first-born of thy herd
and of thy flock, that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God
always.
LXX Deuteronomy 15:19 Every first-born that shall be born among thy kine and
thy sheep, thou shalt sanctify the males to the Lord thy God; thou shalt not
work with thy first-born calf, and thou shalt not shear the first-born of
thy sheep.
LXX Deuteronomy 33:17 His beauty is as the firstling of his bull, his
horns are the horns of a unicorn; with them he shall thrust the nations at
once, even from the end of the earth: these are the ten thousands of
Ephraim, and these are the thousands of Manasse.
LXX Joshua 6:26 And Joshua adjured them on that day before the Lord, saying,
Cursed be the man who shall build that city: he shall lay the foundation of
it in his first-born, and he shall set up the gates of it in his
youngest son. And so did Hozan of Baethel; he laid the foundation in Abiron
his first-born, and set up the gates of it in his youngest surviving son.
LXX Joshua 17:1 And the borders of the tribe of the children of Manasse,
(for he was the first-born of Joseph) assigned to Machir the
firstborn of Manasse the father of Galaad, for he was a warrior, were
in the land of Galaad and of Basan.
LXX 2 Samuel 3:2 And sons were born to David in Chebron: and his
first-born was Ammon the son of Achinoom the Jezraelitess.
LXX 2 Samuel 13:21 And king David heard of all these things, and was very
angry; but he did not grieve the spirit of his son Amnon, because be loved
him, for he was his first-born.
LXX 1 Kings 16:34 And in his days Achiel the Baethelite built Jericho; he
laid the foundation of it in Abiron his first-born, and he set up the
doors of it in Segub his younger son, according to the word of the Lord
which he spoke by Joshua the son of Naue.
LXX 1 Chronicles 1:29 And these are their generations: the first-born of
Ismael, Nabaeoth, and Kedar, Nabdeel, Massam,
LXX 1 Chronicles 2:3 The sons of Juda; Er, Aunan, Selom. These three were
born to him of the daughter of Sava the Chananitish woman: and Er, the
first-born of Juda, was wicked before the Lord, and he slew him.
LXX 1 Chronicles 2:13 And Jessae begot his first-born Eliab, Aminadab
was the second, Samaa the third,
LXX 1 Chronicles 2:25 And the sons of Jerameel the first-born of Esron
were, the first-born Ram, and Banaa, and Aram, and Asan his brother.
LXX 1 Chronicles 2:27 And the sons of Ram the first-born of Jerameel
were Maas, and Jamin, and Acor.
LXX 1 Chronicles 2:42 And the sons of Chaleb the brother of Jerameel were,
Marisa his first-born, he is the father of Ziph:-- and the sons of
Marisa the father of Chebron.
LXX 1 Chronicles 2:50 These were the sons of Chaleb: the sons of Or the
first-born of Ephratha; Sobal the father of Cariathiarim,
LXX 1 Chronicles 3:15 And the sons of Josia; the first-born Joanan,
the second Joakim, the third Sedekias, the fourth Salum.
LXX 1 Chronicles 4:4 And Phanuel the father of Gedor, and Jazer the father
of Osan: these are the sons of Or, the first-born of Ephratha, the
father of Baethalaen.
LXX 1 Chronicles 5:1 And the sons of Ruben the first-born of Israel
(for he was the first-born; but because of his going up to his father's
couch, his father gave his blessing to his son Joseph, even the son Israel;
and he was not reckoned as first-born;
LXX 1 Chronicles 5:3 The sons of Ruben the first-born of Israel;
Enoch, and Phallus, Asrom, and Charmi.
LXX 1 Chronicles 6:28 The sons of Samuel; the first-born Sani, and
Abia.
LXX 1 Chronicles 8:1 Now Benjamin begot Bale his first-born, and
Asbel his second son, Aara the third, Noa the fourth,
LXX 1 Chronicles 8:30 And her first-born son was Abdon, and Sur, and
Kis, and Baal, and Nadab, and Ner,
LXX 1 Chronicles 8:38 And Esel had six sons, and these were their name;
Ezricam his first-born, and Ismael, and Saraia, and Abdia, and Anan,
and Asa: all these were the sons of Esel.
LXX 1 Chronicles 8:39 And the sons of Asel his brother; AElam his
first-born, and Jas the second, and Eliphalet the third.
LXX 1 Chronicles 9:5 And of the Selonites; Asaia his first-born, and
his sons.
LXX 1 Chronicles 9:36 And his first-born son was Abdon, and he had
Sur, and Kis, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,
LXX 1 Chronicles 9:44 And Esel had six sons, and these were their names;
Esricam his first-born, and Ismael, and Saraia, and Abdia, and Anan,
and Asa: these were the sons of Esel.
LXX 1 Chronicles 26:6 And to Samaias his son were born the sons of his
first-born, chiefs over the house of their father, for they were mighty.
LXX Nehemiah 10:36 the first-born of our sons, and of our
cattle, as it is written in the law, and the first-born of our herds
and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, for the
priests that minister in the house of our God.
LXX Psalm 135:8 Who smote the first-born of Egypt, both man and
beast.
LXX Psalm 136:10 To him who smote Egypt with their first-born; for
his mercy endures for ever.
LXX Jeremiah 31:9 (38:9) They went forth with weeping, and I will bring them
back with consolation, causing them to lodge by the channels of waters in a
straight way, and they shall not err in it: for I am become a father to
Israel, and Ephraim is my first-born.
LXX Micah 6:7 Will the Lord accept thousands of rams, or ten thousands of
fat goats? should I give my first-born for ungodliness, the fruit of
my body for the sin of my soul?
It should be noted too, that Jesus, unlike Ephraim, Jacob and Israel, was never GIVEN the title of "firstborn". He was simply spoken of as firstborn in the temporal sense in passages like the ones at Col. 1:15, 18, Heb. 1:6, Rev. 1:5 and Romans 8:29.
When this changes, "the firstborn of" is used as part of a group. If it is "the firstborn of" Israel(Ex. 6:14), it is one of the sons of Israel, if it is "the firstborn of" Pharoah(Ex. 11:5) it is a member of the house of Pharoah, if it is "the firstborn of" beasts(Ex. 13:15) then it is an animal also. Why then should this rule be changed as it applies to "the firstborn of" creation? Obviously Jesus is a created being, as he was historically always thought to be the Wisdom of Proverbs.
Verses used are from the English Translation of The Septuagint Version of the Old Testament by Sir Lancelot C. L. Brenton, 1844, 1851.
See: http://www.ellopos.net/elpenor/greek-texts/septuagint/default.asp
https://www.forananswer.org/Top_JW/Reyes_Partitive.htm
ReplyDeletehttps://www.forananswer.org/Top_JW/Keay.Col1_15.htm
The argument you're presenting hinges on the interpretation of the term firstborn (Greek: prototokos) in Colossians 1:15, suggesting that Jesus is a created being because "firstborn" is often used to describe someone who is literally born first in time within a family, or part of a created group. However, this interpretation doesn't account for the full biblical and theological context of how the term is used, especially in relation to Christ.
In Colossians 1:15, when Paul refers to Jesus as the "firstborn over all creation," he is using the term prototokos in a sense that emphasizes rank, not chronological order. In the biblical context, prototokos often carries the meaning of preeminence, authority, and priority in rank, not necessarily the first to be created. This is supported by other biblical uses of the term.
For instance:
Psalm 89:27 (LXX) refers to King David as "the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth," even though David was not the first king of Israel, nor was he the firstborn son in his family. The title of "firstborn" here denotes supremacy and status, not birth order.
In Exodus 4:22, God calls Israel His "firstborn son." Israel was not the first nation created, but it was given a special, chosen status among the nations.
Colossians 1:15–17 clarifies that Jesus is not part of creation, but rather the one through whom all things were created: "For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created through him and for him." It explicitly states that Jesus is the agent of creation, not a part of it. This is further emphasized in verse 17: "He is before all things, and in him all things hold together."
The phrase "firstborn of all creation" therefore does not imply that Jesus was created, but that He has authority and preeminence over all creation because He is the Creator. The use of prototokos in this context emphasizes His supremacy and sovereignty.
If Paul had intended to say that Jesus was the first created being, he would have used the term protoktistos (Greek for "first-created") rather than prototokos. The specific choice of prototokos aligns with biblical tradition where the "firstborn" often represents preeminence and authority.
The use of prototokos in relation to Christ is not about His origin in time but His status and authority over all creation. This is consistent with the broader teaching of the New Testament that presents Jesus as eternal (John 1:1-3) and uncreated.
The assertion that Jesus was "historically always thought to be the Wisdom of Proverbs" requires more nuance. Early Christian theologians did identify Jesus with the divine Wisdom described in Proverbs 8, but they understood this Wisdom as eternal and uncreated, not as a created being. Wisdom, in the context of Proverbs 8, is personified and described as being with God in the creation process. However, Wisdom is not created but is part of God's eternal being. In the same way, the New Testament describes Jesus as the Logos (Word) through whom all things were made (John 1:1-3), not as a created being.
While it is true that prototokos often follows a genitive construction ("firstborn of"), this does not automatically mean that the "firstborn" is part of the group it rules over. In fact, in Colossians 1:15, Jesus is called the "firstborn over all creation" (Greek: prototokos pasēs ktiseōs), which indicates authority over creation, not inclusion within it. The preposition "over" (pasēs) further supports the idea of supremacy rather than being part of creation.
ReplyDeleteIn conclusion, the term prototokos in Colossians 1:15 does not imply that Jesus is a created being, but rather that He has preeminence and authority over all creation. The context makes it clear that Jesus is the Creator, not part of creation. Early Christian thought recognized Jesus as eternal, co-equal with the Father, and the agent of creation. The suggestion that Jesus is a created being contradicts the broader scriptural witness to His divine nature and role in the universe.