Preeminent
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The term "preeminent" refers to surpassing all others in authority, rank, or importance. In the context of the Bible, it is often used to describe the supreme status of Jesus Christ in relation to creation, the Church, and all things spiritual and temporal.

Biblical References:

1. Colossians 1:18 : "And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence." This verse highlights the preeminence of Christ as the head of the Church and the first to rise from the dead, affirming His authority and supremacy over all creation.

2. Colossians 1:15-17 : "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." These verses emphasize Christ's preeminent role in creation, underscoring His divine nature and authority over all powers and principalities.

3. Philippians 2:9-11 : "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." This passage speaks to the exaltation of Christ, affirming His preeminence as Lord over all creation, deserving of worship and reverence.

Theological Significance:

The preeminence of Christ is a central tenet of Christian theology, affirming His divine nature and His role as the ultimate authority in both the spiritual and physical realms. This concept is foundational to understanding the relationship between Christ and the Church, as well as His role in the redemption and reconciliation of humanity to God.

Christ's Preeminence in the Church:

As the head of the Church, Christ's preeminence is not only a matter of authority but also of function and purpose. He is the source of life and growth for the Church, guiding and sustaining it through His Spirit. The Church, as the body of Christ, is called to reflect His preeminence in its mission and ministry, submitting to His leadership and following His example.

Preeminence in Creation:

Christ's preeminence extends to all of creation, as He is the agent through whom all things were made. This underscores the belief in His eternal existence and His active role in sustaining the universe. The acknowledgment of Christ's preeminence in creation calls believers to worship Him as the Creator and to steward the earth in a manner that honors His authority.

Implications for Believers:

For believers, recognizing the preeminence of Christ means acknowledging His lordship in every aspect of life. It calls for a life of obedience, worship, and service, aligning one's priorities with His will and purpose. The preeminence of Christ assures believers of His ultimate victory over sin and death, providing hope and confidence in the promise of eternal life.

In summary, the concept of preeminence as applied to Jesus Christ is a profound declaration of His divine authority and central role in God's redemptive plan. It is a call to recognize and honor Him as the supreme ruler over all creation and the head of the Church.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(a.) Eminent above others; prominent among those who are eminent; superior in excellence; surpassing, or taking precedence of, others; rarely, surpassing others in evil, or in bad qualities; as, preeminent in guilt.
Greek
746. arche -- beginning, origin
... properly, from the ( sense), ie " (starting) point"; (figuratively) what comes and
therefore is (foremost), ie has the because ahead of the rest ("preeminent ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/746.htm - 7k

937. basilikos -- royal
... regal (in relation), ie (literally) belonging to (or befitting) the sovereign (as
land, dress, or a courtier), or (figuratively) preeminent -- king's, nobleman ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/937.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
3493. yattir -- preeminent, surpassing
... 3492, 3493. yattir. 3494 . preeminent, surpassing. Transliteration: yattir
Phonetic Spelling: (yat-teer') Short Definition: extraordinary. ...
/hebrew/3493.htm - 6k

5329. natsach -- preeminent or enduring
... 5328, 5329. natsach. 5330 . preeminent or enduring. Transliteration: natsach
Phonetic Spelling: (naw-tsakh') Short Definition: oversee. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5329.htm - 6k

3499a. yether -- remainder, excess, preeminence
... excess, preeminence NASB Word Usage abundance (2), exceedingly (1), excellent (1),
fully* (1), leave (1), left (3), more* (1), preeminent (2), remainder (5 ...
/hebrew/3499a.htm - 5k

Library

The Ministry and Prayer
... His leadership was preeminent, and His praying was preeminent. Had it not
been, His leadership had been neither preeminent nor divine. ...
/.../bounds/the weapon of prayer/vii the ministry and prayer.htm

Prayer and Obedience (Continued)
... strength to praying. Our Lord Jesus Christ was preeminent in praying, because
He was preeminent in saintliness. An entire dedication ...
/.../bounds/the necessity of prayer/x prayer and obedience continued.htm

History of Public Speaking
... Demosthenes. Demosthenes stands preeminent among Greek orators. ... John Knox.
John Knox, the Scotch reformer, was a preeminent preacher. ...
/.../kleiser/successful methods of public speaking/history of public speaking.htm

Second Sunday after Easter
... "The passion of Christ," Peter would say, "the suffering of the Lord, is a surpassing,
a preeminent and sublimely ... He would stand preeminent"the Master. ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/second sunday after easter.htm

On the Nature of God
... Simplicity is a preeminent mode of the Essence of God, by which he is void of all
composition, and of component parts whether they belong to the senses or to ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 4 on the nature.htm

Spurgeon -- Songs in the Night
... Sincerity, intensity, imagination and humor, he had in preeminent degree, and an
English style that has been described as "a long bright river of silver speech ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/spurgeon songs in the.htm

Potter -- Memorial Discourse on Phillips Brooks
... I shall be content to speak of him as a bishop,"of his divine right, as I profoundly
believe, to a place in the episcopate, and of the preeminent value of ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 8/potter memorial discourse on.htm

Praying Men at a Premium
... The dispensation of the Holy Spirit is a dispensation of prayer, in a preeminent
sense. Here prayer has an essential and vital relation. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the weapon of prayer/vi praying men at a.htm

The Gospel of John
... and true it is that he who has occupied the central position in the narratives of
the first three Evangelists, is the same One that is made preeminent by John ...
//christianbookshelf.org/pink/why four gospels/the gospel of john.htm

The Preacher's Cry --Pray for Us!
... That the true apostolic preacher must have the prayers of others"good people to
give to his ministry its full quota of success, Paul is a preeminent example. ...
/.../bounds/the weapon of prayer/x the preachers crypray for.htm

Thesaurus
Preeminent (2 Occurrences)
... eminent; superior in excellence; surpassing, or taking precedence of, others; rarely,
surpassing others in evil, or in bad qualities; as, preeminent in guilt. ...
/p/preeminent.htm - 7k

Messiah (9 Occurrences)
... (3) Later Prophets. After Ezekiel's time, during the remaining years of the exile,
the hope of a preeminent king of David's house naturally disappears. ...
/m/messiah.htm - 43k

Ethics
... Christianity we are confronted with the motive power of a great Personality entering
into the current of human history, and by His preeminent spiritual force ...
/e/ethics.htm - 70k

Nebuchadrezzar (31 Occurrences)
... The prophecies of Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel, and the last chapters of Kings
and Chronicles centered about his life, and he stands preeminent, along with ...
/n/nebuchadrezzar.htm - 29k

Only (3813 Occurrences)
... kind; as, an only child. 3. (a.) Hence, figuratively: Alone, by reason
of superiority; preeminent; chief. 4. (a.) In one manner ...
/o/only.htm - 10k

Love (703 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A feeling of strong attachment induced by that which delights or commands
admiration; preeminent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness ...
/l/love.htm - 65k

Gift (148 Occurrences)
... 4. (vt) Some quality or endowment given to man by God; a preeminent and special
talent or aptitude; power; faculty; as, the gift of wit; a gift for speaking. ...
/g/gift.htm - 59k

Excellent (52 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 1:4; Hebrews 8:6); kratistos, "most excellent," "most noble" (Luke 1:3 Acts
23:26); ta diapheronta, "things that differ," "are preeminent" (Romans 2:18 ...
/e/excellent.htm - 24k

Pre-eminent (3 Occurrences)
Pre-eminent. Preeminent, Pre-eminent. Prefect . Multi-Version Concordance ... (See
JPS). Preeminent, Pre-eminent. Prefect . Reference Bible.
/p/pre-eminent.htm - 7k

Prince (160 Occurrences)
... 4. (n.) The chief of any body of men; one at the head of a class or profession;
one who is preeminent; as, a merchant prince; a prince of players. ...
/p/prince.htm - 53k

Resources
Why do most Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that God is great? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that God is sovereign? | GotQuestions.org

Preeminent: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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