12/18/01

This is a topic often discussed concerning Colossians 1:15-17 which says:

Colossians 1:15-17 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

The Jehovah Witness Bible Translation of Colossians 1:15-17 reads as follows: Note how they add the word "other" to support their doctrine that Jesus was first created by God and that everything else was then created through Him. This addition of the word "other" is totally unsupported by Greek experts and translators around the world. (Emphasis Mine)

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. Also, he is before all other things and by means of him all other things were made to exists." The New World Translation

Members of the Jehovah Witness Organization claim that because this verse says Jesus is the "first born" that it shows us He is not eternal, that He was created and had a beginning and therefore He cannot be God. 

Now it is true that the common thought of modern man is that first born means the first child born but at the time these scriptures were written this term had a completely different meaning. In Psalm 89:20, 27 it says, "I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him:...Also I will make him my firstborn". As you can see, David, who was the last one born in his family was called the firstborn by God. As such this title is one of preeminence and not in reference to the order of birth. The same meaning is used in Colossians 1:15 of Jesus. 

Another reason we know that this verse is referring to a standard of preeminence is because of the words used. For this we will have to take a look at the Greek language it was originally written in and is translated from. Paul when writing firstborn used the Greek word "  proto-tokis " which means first born. Had Paul wanted to say that Jesus was the first created, as Jehovah Witnesses believe, he could have easily used the Greek word "  proto-ktisis   " which means first created. He did not. Nor did anyone else in the Bible.