The Scripture affirms without equivocation that Christ is the firstborn over all creation. Colossians 1:15 is descriptive of this designation: “Who [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature” (KJV). The New International Version has almost the same wording: “He [Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
What does this phrase mean and, possibly more importantly, what doesn’t it mean?
To begin, the word for firstborn does not mean that Christ has been created. The meaning of the word itself and the clear teaching of the related passages makes it clear that Christ is the Creator and not part of the creation.
The word for firstborn describes that which is “prior to,” “of first importance, of first rank.” This is clear in the Old Testament in Psalm 89:27. Solomon, who was not David’s first son, is called the firstborn: “I will also appoint him my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.” In this exact sense, Christ is exalted, He is pre-eminent over all creation.
The theme of Colossians is the pre-eminence of Christ. He is not one of the gods or a part of God as the false teachers of Colossae asserted. Christ is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). In Him, the fullness of the Godhead was pleased to dwell (Colossians 1:19).
The context of the passage shows that Christ was not created. The Scripture affirms that He created: “For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17). He cannot be the Creator and a created thing.
In everything, Christ has supremacy.
This term, that Christ is the firstborn, does not take away from the person of Christ; it adds to it. Christ is above all and over all. Through Him all things exist. Apart from Him, nothing was created.
He is worthy of our worship and praise. He is worthy to model your life after, and He is worthy to trust for all eternity.
Praise be to God! Through Christ God has made us alive. He forgave our sins and having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:13-15).
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