What does EGW write about...
Adventistische Schriften über: "What does it mean that Jesus is the Firstborn?"
Answer
The designation of Jesus as “Firstborn” primarily means that He occupies a position of the highest rank, preeminence, and head over the entire creation, similar to how David was made the firstborn among the kings, although he was the youngest son. He is not part of the created things, but their Creator and Origin, who already existed eternally with God before all creation. As the “only‑begotten Son” He possesses by birth and inheritance the same divine nature and all attributes of God the Father.
Preeminence and Divine Nature
»In Colossians 1:15 he says of Christ: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” The word “firstborn” comes from the Greek prototokos… This word is sometimes used to denote the firstborn in a family, and sometimes to denote someone who is first in rank, a head or a chief… Thus Christ is the “firstborn” of all creation, being the head or chief of the whole creation of God.«
Christ is Creator, Not Creature
»We should also not imagine that Christ is a creature because Paul calls Him “the firstborn of all creation”; for the immediately following verses show that He is the Creator and not a creature… If He created everything that has ever been created, and existed before all created things, it is obvious that He Himself does not belong to the created things. He stands above the entire creation and is not part of it.«
The Firstborn from the Dead
»He is not the firstborn of the dead in chronological order, for others were raised before Him, but in rank. Jesus is… the effective cause of creation and resurrection; “for through Him all things were created” and He is “the resurrection and the life.” Likewise He is also “Prince of kings on earth.”«
Sonship through Divine Inheritance
»This name was not given to Christ as a result of a great achievement, but it belongs to Him by the right of inheritance… A son rightfully always takes the name of the father; and Christ, as “the only‑begotten Son of God,” rightfully has the same name… As the Son of the self‑existing God He naturally possesses all attributes of deity.«
Begetting, Not Created
»The Scriptures explain that Christ is “the only‑begotten Son of God.” He is begetting, not created. When He was begetting is not for us to question, nor could our mind grasp it even if it were told to us… He came forth from the Father's bosom, but that time lies so far back in the days of eternity that for finite understanding it is practically without beginning.«
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