Firstborn of the Dead
To the Colossians, Paul emphasized the exalted position of Jesus that resulted from his death and resurrection – Colossians 1:18-19.
In
Colossians, Paul stresses the exalted position of Jesus. Some members of
the congregation were confused about Christ’s authority, especially regarding
the spiritual powers that remain hostile to him and his people. Therefore, Paul
reminds them of just how highly God has exalted the one who became the “firstborn
of the dead.”
Implicit
in Paul’s statements is the assumption that Jesus did not always hold this
preeminent position. His high status is the result of his obedience
unto death, as well as his triumph over all the hostile spiritual powers
achieved by him on the Cross. Moreover, he emphasizes what the Son of God has
achieved on behalf of the church.
- (Colossians 1:18-22) – “And HE is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, firstborn from among the dead, in order that he might become in all things himself pre-eminent; because in him was all the fullness well pleased to dwell. And through him fully to reconcile all things to him, making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether the things upon the earth or the things in the heavens. And you who at one time were estranged and enemies in your mind in your wicked works, yet now has he fully reconciled, in his body of flesh, through his death, to present you holy and blameless and unaccusable before him.”
In
the Greek text, the pronoun rendered “HE” in the first clause is
emphatic and stresses what God has accomplished in Jesus,
especially in his death and resurrection. He is now - at present
- “before all things” (present tense). Moreover, in
him, all things “adhere” or “hold together.” This
includes his subjugation of all hostile spiritual powers, and therefore, his
people are no longer under the dominion of the “principalities and powers.” In
fact, all such powers were “created” to serve him.
Here,
the Greek term rendered “body” is used metaphorically for the
church (sōma – Strong’s - #4983). In
Paul’s view, a physical human “body” is something that God created, and therefore,
it is inherently good regardless of its present mortal state.
“Firstborn” points to Christ’s preeminence as the “firstborn of many brethren.” And he is the firstborn from the dead - the Son of God is the first man to be resurrected and to receive a glorious immortal body.
His past resurrection links Jesus to the saints. His
resurrection is the model and the “first-fruits” of the future resurrection
of the righteous, and his glorified body is of the same nature as the one that Christians
will receive when he returns. Likewise, the book of Revelation labels
him the “firstborn from the dead,” also in reference to his past resurrection:
- (Revelation 1:4-5) – “John, to the seven assemblies which are in Asia, Grace to you and peace, from Him who Is, and Who Was, and who is Coming, and from the Seven Spirits which are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the Firstborn of the Dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.”
In
Colossians, Paul also uses “resurrection” metaphorically. On some
level, water baptism symbolizes the saints being “buried” with Jesus in
his death so that now they should live in the newness of his resurrected life -
(Colossians
2:9-14).
One
result of his exaltation was the cancellation of the ordinances from the Law that
governed food and the calendar. Such things were not inherently evil, and they
were required by the Torah. However, their time came to an end with
the death and resurrection of the Messiah. Such rituals amounted to “shadows”
of the “substance” that cast them, namely, Jesus - (Romans
6:4-5).
Because
of his victory, believers must not allow anyone to enslave them again to the
very “rudiments” to which they have died in Christ (“For you died,
and your life is hidden with Christ in God”). Since they have been raised
together with him, they must pursue the things above - “Where Christ is,
seated on the right hand of God.”
When
Jesus is again “manifested,” his people will also “be manifested in
glory.” This “manifestation” refers to his return, and his people
will receive “glory” at the “advent of Jesus” when they are
raised from the dead. Paul links this future “glory” to the present
glory of Jesus and the future resurrection. The connection is especially
prominent in the designation “firstborn of the dead” - (1
Peter 5:4, 1 John 2:28, 3:2).
As
in many of his letters, the future resurrection of the righteous is
foundational to Paul’s understanding of salvation and of the Christian hope of
life in the age to come.
