THE MEANING OF “THE FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATION” IN COL 1:15 (5)

CHAPTER 5

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The most reasons why there are many dispute and different interpretations of the Col 1:15, especially the phrase the “firstborn of all creation” is caused by its vagueness meaning. The phrase is translated literally, as some scholars do that Christ is part of the creation.The conclusion of the study, as far as the grammar of the passage is concerned, one can interpret the phrase the firstborn of all creation that Christ is created and He is the first of created being as Arians’ hold especially when one interpreting the phrase literally. However, from the analysis of the grammatical and syntactical, and intertextuality of the context, we can conclude that the term firstborn does not only refers to the firstborn in literal meaning but also to the status because of the context.

Interpreting the phrase of the firstborn of all creation in its context shows that the notion of Christ is part of creation, for surely is contradictive. The immediate context shows that Christ is not created but the source of them. The study of lexical, grammatical and syntactical study shows that the meaning of Greek word πρωτότοκος is not only literal first born but also can be taken figuratively.

The meaning of phrase, the firstborn of all Creation is in Col 1:15 is unique because the passage distinguishes Christ from all creation. It is a terminology which is a reference to priority of position. It is a term that emphasizes quality or kind, not time. The idea of “preeminence” conveys the meaning of the term. We can conclude that the the phrase “firstborn of all creation” in its context has nothing to do with birth.

To summarize the study, the phrase of the “firstborn of all creation” in Col 1:15 the phrase “firstborn of all creation” cannot be interpreted literally and does not mean that Christ Jesus is part of creation but t means that Christ is “prior to all creation” or “the first rank of all creation.” This also means  that phrase of the firstborn of all creation points to Christ’ eternal pre-existences.