A Commonly Asked Question
Regarding the Divinity of Christ
Doesn't the Bible teach that Jesus was the “first born” of all creation and as such a created being not co-existent with the Father from eternity?
The text in question is Col. 1:15 which calls Jesus the first born of every creature. The Greek word here is prototokos meaning the pre-eminent one—the one who has the privileges and prerogatives of God. Jesus is the first born not in the sense of time but in the sense of privilege. All the privileges of the first born are His. David was the eighth son of Jesse, yet called the first born. Jesus claimed that He is the “I AM” (John 8:58) meaning the self-existent one. He said, “before Abraham was, I AM.” Isaiah the prophet calls Him the everlasting Father (Isaiah 9:6). Micah declares that His origin is from everlasting (Mic. 5:2). John affirms, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” (John 1:1). Jesus had the privileges and prerogatives of God. He thought equality with God was not a thing to be grasped while the world was lost, so He voluntarily left heaven to become a man. He dwelt in human flesh, fought temptations' battle as we fight them, and overcame in our behalf (Phil. 2:5-11; Heb. 2:14, 17).
Page 9, “Studying Together A Ready-reference Bible Handbook” by Mark Finley. You may purchase a copy of this book by visiting: http://www.adventistbookcenter.com (We are not an affiliate of this website.)