The term "First-begotten" is a significant title used in the New Testament to describe Jesus Christ, emphasizing His preeminence and unique relationship with God the Father. This term is often synonymous with "firstborn" and is deeply rooted in both Jewish and early Christian theological contexts.

Biblical References:

1. Hebrews 1:6 : "And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: 'Let all God’s angels worship Him.'" This passage highlights the supremacy of Christ over the angels, underscoring His divine nature and authority. The use of "firstborn" here is not about chronological birth order but rather about rank and honor.

2. Colossians 1:15-18 : "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence." In this passage, Paul emphasizes Christ's role in creation and His authority over all things, including His resurrection, which marks Him as the "firstborn from among the dead."

3. Romans 8:29 : "For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers." Here, the term "firstborn" signifies Christ's role as the preeminent one among the redeemed, the model to whom believers are conformed.

Theological Significance:

The title "First-begotten" or "firstborn" is not to be understood in a literal, physical sense but rather in a metaphorical and theological context. It denotes Christ's supremacy, His eternal existence, and His unique sonship. In Jewish tradition, the firstborn son held a place of special privilege and inheritance, which is reflected in the New Testament's application of the term to Jesus.

Christ's Preeminence:

The use of "first-begotten" underscores the belief in Christ's preexistence and His active role in creation. It affirms His divinity and His position as the heir of all things. This title also points to His resurrection as the first to rise from the dead in a glorified body, paving the way for the future resurrection of believers.

Christ's Relationship with Believers:

As the "firstborn among many brothers," Christ is the elder brother to all who are adopted into God's family through faith. This relationship assures believers of their inheritance and status as co-heirs with Christ, highlighting the intimate and familial bond between Jesus and His followers.

In summary, the term "First-begotten" encapsulates the majesty, authority, and eternal nature of Jesus Christ, affirming His central role in God's redemptive plan and His unparalleled position in the universe.FIRST-BEGOTTEN

furst-be-got'-'-n (prototokos):

This Greek word is translated in two passages in the King James Version by "first-begotten" (Hebrews 1:6 Revelation 1:5), but in all other places in the King James Version, and always in the Revised Version (British and American), by "firstborn." It is used in its natural literal sense of Jesus Christ as Mary's firstborn (Luke 2:7 Matthew 1:25 the King James Version); it also bears the literal sense of Jesus Christ as Mary's firstborn (Luke 2:7 Matthew 1:25 the King James Version); it also bears the literal sense of the firstborn of the firstborn of men and animals (Hebrews 11:28). It is not used in the New Testament or Septuagint of an only child, which is expressed by monogenes (see below).

Metaphorically, it is used of Jesus Christ to express at once His relation to man and the universe and His difference from them, as both He and they are related to God. The laws and customs of all nations show that to be "firstborn" means, not only priority in time, but a certain superiority in privilege and authority. Israel is Yahweh's firstborn among the nations (Exodus 4:22; compare Jeremiah 31:9). The Messianic King is God's firstborn Septuagint prototokos), "the highest of the kings of the earth" (Psalm 89:27). Philo applies the word to the Logos as the archetypal and governing idea of creation. Similarly Christ, as "the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15), is not only prior to it in time, but above it in power and authority. "All things have been created through him, and unto him" (Colossians 1:16).

He is "sovereign Lord over all creation by virtue of primo-geniture" (Lightfoot). It denotes His status and character and not His origin; the context does not admit the idea that He is a part of the created universe. So in His incarnation He is brought into the world as "firstborn," and God summons all His angels to worship Him (Hebrews 1:6). In His resurrection He is "firstborn from the dead" (Colossians 1:18) or "of the dead" (Revelation 1:5), the origin and prince of life. And finally He is "firstborn among many brethren" in the consummation of God's purpose of grace, when all the elect are gathered home. Not only is He their Lord, but also their pattern, God's ideal Son and men are "foreordained to be conformed to (his) image" (Romans 8:29). Therefore the saints themselves, as growing in His likeness, and as possessing all the privileges of eldest sons, including the kingdom and the priesthood, may be called the "church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven" (Hebrews 12:23).

See also BEGOTTEN, and Lightfoot on Colossians 1:15.

T. Rees

4416. prototokos -- first-born
... firstborn From protos and the alternate of tikto; first-born (usually as noun,
literally or figuratively) -- firstbegotten(-born). see GREEK protos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4416.htm - 7k

The Firstborn.
... The Firstborn. "THE Firstborn" or "The Firstbegotten" is one of the names of our
blessed Lord. ... i:6). God will bring the Firstbegotten back to this earth again. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/the firstborn.htm

He Then Again Admirably Discusses the Term Prototokos as it is ...
... Four times the name of "first-born" or "first-begotten" is used by the Apostle in
all his writings: but he has made mention of the name in different senses and ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/section 3 he then again.htm

The Glory Song.
... the Lord, the Alpha, the Omega, the First, the Last, the Beginning of the Creation
of God, the Amen, the faithful Witness, the First begotten from the dead ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/the glory song.htm

Hebrews i. 8-Jun
... Hebrews i. 6-8. Hebrews i.6-8 "And again when He bringeth in the First-Begotten
into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him. ...
/.../homilies on the gospel of st john and hebrews/homily iii hebrews i 8-jun.htm

Whether it is Credible that the Men of the Primitive Age Abstained ...
... and daughters. Consequently it does not at all appear whether he who is
named as the son was himself the first begotten. Nay, since ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 15 whether it is credible.htm

Index.
... of God's glory, 12; as theocratic king, 26, 179; piety of, 77; true man, 167;
unchangeable, 164; unites all revelations of God, 8; as first-begotten, 26; as ...
/.../edwards/the expositors bible the epistle to the hebrews/index 2.htm

Nineteenth Day. Holiness and Resurrection.
... Christ. According to the flesh, He was born of the seed of David. According
to the Spirit, He was the first begotten from the dead. As ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/nineteenth day holiness and resurrection.htm

But God the Father was Very Merciful: He Sent his Creative Word...
... the first begotten of the dead , and in Himself raising up man that was fallen,
lifting him up far above the heaven to the right hand of the glory of the Father ...
/.../the demonstration of the apostolic preaching/chapter 38 but god the.htm

Absurd Ideas of the Disciples of Valentinus as to the Origin, Name ...
... Along with him was also produced Aletheia; and these four constituted the first
and first-begotten Pythagorean Tetrad, which they also denominate the root of ...
/.../irenaeus/against heresies/chapter i absurd ideas of the.htm

God Alone Perfectly Good.
... Accordingly in Scripture He is called both only-begotten and first-begotten;
only-begotten of the Father, and first-begotten from the dead. ...
/.../chapter 37 name alone perfectly.htm

Firstbegotten (1 Occurrence)
... be-got'-'-n (prototokos): This Greek word is translated in two passages in the King
James Version by "first-begotten" (Hebrews 1:6 ...Firstbegotten (1 Occurrence). ...
/f/firstbegotten.htm - 10k

First-begotten (2 Occurrences)
First-begotten. Firstbegotten, First-begotten. Firstborn . Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia ... Firstbegotten, First-begotten. Firstborn . Reference Bible.
/f/first-begotten.htm - 10k

Firstling (8 Occurrences)
... See CHILD; CIRCUMCISION; FIRST-BEGOTTEN; PLAGUES OF EGYPT. NOTE-The custom of redeeming
the firstborn son is preserved among the Jews to this day. ...
/f/firstling.htm - 15k

Birthright (10 Occurrences)
... (4.) The Jews attached a sacred importance to the rank of "first-born" and
"first-begotten" as applied to the Messiah (Romans 8:29; Colossians 1:18; Hebrews ...
/b/birthright.htm - 15k

Bringeth (313 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he
saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. (KJV ASV WBS). ...
/b/bringeth.htm - 37k

Firstborn (119 Occurrences)
... See CHILD; CIRCUMCISION; FIRST-BEGOTTEN; PLAGUES OF EGYPT. NOTE-The custom of redeeming
the firstborn son is preserved among the Jews to this day. ...
/f/firstborn.htm - 46k

Begotten (77 Occurrences)
... Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. ...
/b/begotten.htm - 33k

Prince (160 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the
firstbegotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. ...
/p/prince.htm - 53k

Loved (249 Occurrences)
... Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first
begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. ...
/l/loved.htm - 35k

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