Topical Bible: The First Fruits: First Converts in Any Place

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The concept of "first fruits" in the Bible is rich with theological and symbolic significance, extending beyond its agricultural roots to encompass the spiritual realm, particularly in the context of the first converts in any place. The term "first fruits" originally referred to the initial yield of the harvest, which was offered to God as a sign of gratitude and dedication (Exodus 23:19, Leviticus 23:10). This offering was a recognition of God's provision and a pledge of the full harvest to come.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul employs the metaphor of first fruits to describe the first converts in a particular region or community. These early believers are seen as the initial yield of a spiritual harvest, set apart for God and indicative of a greater ingathering to follow. In Romans 16:5, Paul refers to Epaenetus as "the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia" , highlighting his role as a pioneer of faith in that area.

Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 16:15, Paul mentions the household of Stephanas as "the first converts in Achaia" , underscoring their significance as the initial believers in that region. These first converts are often seen as trailblazers, whose faith and commitment pave the way for others to follow. Their conversion marks the beginning of the church's expansion in new territories, serving as a testament to the power of the Gospel to transcend cultural and geographical boundaries.

Theologically, the first fruits symbolize the sanctification of the whole. Just as the offering of the first fruits sanctified the entire harvest, the conversion of the first believers in a region is seen as a foretaste of the full harvest of souls that God intends to gather. This concept is further illustrated in James 1:18, where believers are described as "a kind of firstfruits of His creatures" , emphasizing their role as the initial evidence of God's redemptive work in the world.

The notion of first fruits also carries eschatological implications. In 1 Corinthians 15:20, Paul refers to Christ as "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" , indicating that His resurrection is the guarantee of the future resurrection of all believers. In this sense, the first converts in any place are a microcosm of the larger redemptive plan, pointing to the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to redeem and restore His creation.

In summary, the concept of first fruits, when applied to the first converts in any place, underscores the pioneering nature of their faith, the sanctification of the broader community, and the eschatological hope of a future harvest. These early believers are a testament to the transformative power of the Gospel and a reminder of God's ongoing work in the world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 16:5
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The First-Fruits of the Gentiles
... knowledge of the letter, which mark converts from heathenism ... it privately, so as
to keep any inkling of ... These are the first-fruits of the Gentiles unto Christ. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the first-fruits of the gentiles.htm

That Gospel Sermon on the Blessed Hope
... wrote about these things to those young converts among the ... I do not find any place
where God says the world ... heavens for us, and become the first fruits of them ...
/.../moody/that gospel sermon on the blessed hope/that gospel sermon on the.htm

The Persecutions of the Apostolic Church, and Its Condition at the ...
... of the metropolis were prepared to believe any report to ... and Sergius Paulus, one
of the first fruits of the ... could boast of some illustrious converts; and the ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter xi the persecutions of.htm

The First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians
... have had no sympathy with either any mediaeval depreciation ... The next question is
whether converts may eat meat ... 15:20 he calls Christ "the first-fruits of them ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter x the first epistle.htm

The First Epistle General of Peter
... At first sight it seems to mean those Christians of ... the Epistle would be written
to converts from Judaism. ... was foretold by the prophets: the fruits of salvation ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter xxi the first epistle.htm

The First Cry from the Cross
... world, first created a little ring of Jewish converts and of ... If there be any whom
we should first seek to ... Bring forth, therefore, fruits meet for repentance. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 15 1869/the first cry from the.htm

The Foundation of the Church.
... and giving bounteous alms; but the new converts of Greek ... The Roman soldier, Cornelius,
was the first-fruits of a ... James the son of Zebedee, the first Apostle to ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/yonge/the chosen people/lesson xxi the foundation of.htm

Introduction
... he uses them as synonyms or at any rate to ... well aware that Christ is the first fruits
of those ... 44) that the apostles appointed their first converts as presbyter ...
//christianbookshelf.org/richardson/early christian fathers/introduction.htm

A Liberal Church
... to Christ, of more importance than any ordinary business ... believers, the liberality
of the converts in Macedonia ... thy substance, and with the first fruits of all ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 32 a liberal church.htm

The Conversion of Apollos, his Character, and the Ministry of Paul ...
... in this great city his two Corinthian converts, Aquila and ... Among the first fruits
of their pious care for the ... Hence in the first epistle addressed to them, the ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter viii the conversion of.htm