In an effort to thwart the meaning of firstborn, someone states that the people of Israel existed before they were God’s firstborn. (Exodus 4:22) This is thought to offer proof that the word “firstborn” in Colossians 1:15 does not mean one brought forth into existence, but that it simply designates Jesus as being preeminent. The real question should be: Does Exodus 4:22 prove that in Colossians 1:15 Jesus as firstborn was never brought forth into existence, or that Jesus was never a member of "every creature" that God created?
Exodus 4:22 - And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah, Israel is my son, my first-born:
Actually, Exodus 4:22 does not prove such because the land of Israel came into existence as a result of the covenant made with Abraham. (Genesis 26:3; 28:4,13; 35:12; Deuteronomy 34:4; 2 Chronicles 20:7; Isaiah 41:8; Acts 3:25; Romans 9:4) Nevertheless, Israel was already considered Jehovah’s son called out of Egypt, before the law covenant was given. (Exodus 4:22; Hosea 11:1) Regardless, there is nothing in Exodus 4:22 that says that Israel was never brought forth into existence as being Jehovah's Son. Israel was still the firstborn as a people to Jehovah and they did have a beginning as a nation. Jehovah never recognized any of the nations before as his own people. (Amos 3:1,2; Deuteronomy 7:6; 10:15; Psalm 147:19,20) As being the firstborn of the nations that Jehovah brought forth, Israel is still a member of the nations that Jehovah brought forth.
Throughout the scriptures, however, anyone designated as the firstborn of a living group is always included in the group of which that one is designated firstborn, whether that person is the actual first one to be brought forth, or whether the person is given the right of firstborn taken away from the actual first to be brought forth. In Colossians 1:15, Jesus is included in the group of God's creation and is thus the firstborn creature. There is nothing in Colossians 1:15 that hints the right of the firstborn was taken from the true first one whom God brought forth and given to Jesus.
Related Studies
Colossians 1:15, Revelation 3:14, and Jesus' Beginning
Colossians 1:15 – Did Jesus Have a Beginning?
Psalm 89:27 – Jehovah’s Firstborn King
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