Colossians 1:15

Colossians 1:15

Referring to Jesus, Colossians 1:15 in the New World Translation reads, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." Does that mean Jesus was the first one to be born during creation?

"Firstborn" in the Bible is an adjective and has two meanings. The original meaning is "born first." But during the antiquity, the firstborn son had all of the privileges and was the most important - ie. "preeminent" or "supreme," so over time, "firstborn" came to also mean "preeminent" or "supreme." This can be seen in Psalm 89, which state:

"I have found David my servant; With my holy oil I have anointed him, ... And I will place him as firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth." (Psalm 89:20 & 27, New World Translation)

1 Samuel 16:11 says David was the "youngest" - not the firstborn - son of Jesse. Therefore, Psalm 89 cannot be saying that David will be placed as "firstborn" in the sense of being born first. So it must be saying David will be placed as firstborn in the other sense, that of being "preeminent" or "supreme." Indeed, the very next phrase even adds, "the highest of the kings of the earth."

The Bible indicates in which sense the word "firstborn" is being used. Just as 1 Samuel 16:11 about David being the youngest precludes the "firstborn" in Psalm 89:27 from meaning born first, Colossians 1:16, which declares that Jesus created "all things," precludes the "firstborn" in Colossians 1:15 from meaning born first since Jesus cannot create something and THEN come into existence. Therefore, the "firstborn" in Colossians 1:15 is also being used in the sense of being "preeminent" or "supreme."

(Another example of "firstborn" meaning "preeminent" or "supreme" in the New Testament is that while Mary bore more children (Mark 6:3) after Jesus (Matthew 1:25), the context of the "firstborn among many brethren" in Romans 8:29 makes it clear that the phrase is referring not to Jesus being the eldest among Mary's children but to His preeminence among Christians.)

And as seen on this page and copied below, Jesus is preeminent or supreme not even "of" but "over" all creation as translated in the CSB, CEB, CJB, ERV, EHV, HCSB, ISV, LEB, MOUNCE, NET, NIRV, NIV, NIVUK, NKJV, and NLT (see this page):