The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 70-10, titled "Bible Questions and Answers."  A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE. Copyright 1990 by John MacArthur Jr., All Rights Reserved.

Question

I have a question from Colossians, chapter 1. They refer to Christ being the “firstborn of all creation” in verse 15, and then in verse 18, they refer to Him as being “firstborn of the dead.” I understand “firstborn of the dead,” but what is “firstborn of all creation?” 

Answer

The word “firstborn” is the word ‘prototokos.’ It doesn’t mean “first in chronology”; it means “first in preeminence.” It means of all the people that have ever been born of creation, He is the primary one. Okay? It doesn’t mean chronology--that’s what you’re asking, right? And when it says He was firstborn from the dead, hey, there were other people who got resurrected before Him, weren’t there? Sure. In the Old Testament… So, ‘prototokos’ means “the primary one,” “the supreme one.” And probably a better way to translate it would be “He is the Image of the invisible God, and the Supreme One of all creation.”

Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:

Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
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