Bible Discussion Thread

 
  • David on Colossians 1:18 - 3 years ago
    Its probably the devil irritating me but there was a little girl Jesus raised up from the dead then Lazarus and this was done before Jesus died and was resurrected so how is Jesus the first born of the dead ?
  • Chris - In Reply on Colossians 1:18 - 3 years ago
    David, that could sound confusing, unless one understands the word 'firstborn'. If that verse stated that Jesus was the first to rise from the dead, then there would be a problem, as you correctly pointed out.

    However, when this word 'firstborn' is applied to Jesus (as in Rom 8:29, Col 1:15, Col 1:18), we see the Gk word 'prototokos' = first to give birth to used (& so we have the word, prototype, as an example). This word, prototokos signifies that Jesus was the first, in a following series of events/instances, to usher in something new. So here in Col 1:18, Jesus was the first to be raised in a changed body outfitting Man & mankind for residence in Heaven. So Jairus' daughter or Lazarus had their physical life restored after death - their bodies remained the same with their hearts & lungs now functioning & they went back to their normal lives: they weren't in anyway resurrected in the same manner Jesus was said to be resurrected.

    In Rom 8:29, we see Jesus here as the 'forerunner or precursor' to the new Man (i.e. God & Man as One): & this is the way we are now through our new birth having God the Spirit indwelling us.

    And in Col 1:15, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature". Here, the reference is to both Creation (v 16) & the Church (v 18), where Jesus is seen as existing before all creation (our forerunner) & indeed was also the Creator of the worlds & the Church.

    But as a side note, the JWs change the word 'firstborn' in Col 1:15 to 'protokitises' = first created. This they do because their doctrine only allows for a 'created' Jesus outside of the Deity (therefore negating the Triune God) & not 'firstborn' which applies to birth/coming forth from the Godhead.
  • David - In Reply on Colossians 1:18 - 3 years ago
    Thanks Chris. The devil playing head games with me



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