October 25, 2008

Pre-exist? "Firstborn Of Every Creature" - Part IV

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In Colossians 1:15 Yeshua is described as "the firstborn of every creature." Many Trinitarians use this verse to support their claim that Yeshua existed before all others.

If this claim were to be true then Scripture would contradict each other? And if Yeshua was literally the "firstborn" as implied by the Trinitarian theory, how can the Bible claim that he is the "son of Abraham and David" (Matthew 1:1)? And consider the statement itself: "FirstBorn of every creature." Does not that demand a mother? Who was the mother who gave birth to him before all others?

These difficulties are solved, and the passage simply and beautifully explained, when the Bible doctrine of the "firstborn" is understood. In the Bible, "firstborn" is a legal term, describing pre-eminence of position or status, though not necessarily of birth. There were special privileges granted the legal firstborn in a family. He represented his father, he acted as a priest, he received a double portion of the family inheritance (see Deuteronomy 21:17).

The Torah provided that the eldest son of a family could forfeit his position as legal firstborn, if guilty of misconduct or inability to perform the necessary duties, and be supplanted by a younger son. In other words, it was not necessary for Yeshua to be the first of G-d's creation to be eligible for the position of legal firstborn.

For example, consider 1 Chronicles 5:1:

"Reuben the firstborn of Israel . . . but forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph, and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright!"
Reuben's lewd conduct earned the rebuke of his father, who deposed him from his legal status of firstborn, and gave the position to a much younger son: Joseph.

Other examples could be multiplied. Ephraim was blessed as firstborn by Jacob, even though he was younger than Manasseh his brother (Genesis 48:14-19), and G-d endorsed the appointment by describing Ephraim as "His firstborn" (Jeremiah 31:9). Jacob was given the birthright over his older brother Esau (Genesis 25:32-34).

This prohibition shows that a legal firstborn could be a younger son, and therefore has a great bearing on the interpretation of Colossians 1:15.

The Bible refers to two notable "sons of G-d": Adam and Yeshua (see Luke 3:38). The "first Adam" forfeited the right of inheritance, the position of firstborn of the human race, because of sin; but G-d raised up a younger Son (called in 1 Cor. 15:45 "the last Adam") whose complete obedience to the will of his Father proved him worthy of the preeminence. He was thus elevated to the position of firstborn of the human race, which means that he receives "a double portion of the inheritance," and that he acts as priest in the family of YHVH. Yeshua is the firstborn, not by fact of longevity but by virtue of his moral excellence.

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