Colossians 1:15-20 (ESV)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
What does the phrase “firstborn of all creation” mean? Is Jesus the first created being?
A few years back, I was at my house on a Saturday morning when I heard an unexpected knock at the door. Most of us have probably gotten a knock like this at some point in our lives but, unlike most people I’ve talked to, I actually get really excited when I get to engage with these types of unexpected visitors. It was a young husband and wife couple of Jehovah’s Witnesses!
From that initial knock, we carried on a weekly meeting every Saturday morning for the next few months, comparing their beliefs with scripture, both sides hoping to convert the other. (We were both completely upfront about our goals in these interactions, so there were no false pretenses or misplaced expectations.) One of the clearest examples of the differences in our Christology came from this passage in Colossians. Their “translation” of the scriptures makes just a slight variation from the text, but that small change introduces a monumental shift in their understanding of Jesus.
Colossians 1:15-20 (New World Translation)
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; 16 because by means of him all other things were created in the heavens and on the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities. All other things have been created through him and for him. 17 Also, he is before all other things, and by means of him all other things were made to exist, 18 and he is the head of the body, the congregation. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might become the one who is first in all things; 19 because God was pleased to have all fullness to dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all other things by making peace through the blood he shed on the torture stake, whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens.
Ok. So, there are more than a few changes! Torture stakes aside, there is something even more subtle, a one word addition to the text, which changes everything.
16 because by means of him all other things were created
Did you catch it that time? All other things were created. According to JW doctrine, Jesus is not eternally God, but just the first being that God the Father created and whom then proceeded to co-labor with God in the creation of everything else. Christian doctrine, thoroughly presented in the Athanasian Creed, claims that Jesus, while distinct in personage from the Father and the Holy Spirit, is like them, God. This means He is uncreated, immeasurable, eternal, almighty and one being with them. Thus, we can say that Jesus was born of the virgin Mary roughly 2,000 years ago. We can also say that Jesus is God. It would become theologically precarious, however, to say that God was born about 2,000 years ago. Welcome back to the mystery.
So, just how important is it that Jesus is recognized as uncreated? Well, according to the Jehovah’s Witnesses, it is important enough that they will unjustifiably add a word into their text in order to alter its meaning and even admit to doing so because the accurate translation so greatly undermines their beliefs about Him. In their own NWT Study Bible, the liner notes make it clear as to why they added the word,
“all other things: A literal rendering of the Greek text would be “all things.” (Compare Kingdom Interlinear.) However, such a rendering could give the impression that Jesus was not created but was the Creator himself.” - New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition), Col. 1:16
If Jesus is uncreated, then He is eternal. If Jesus is eternal, then He shares one of the singularly divine attributes with the nature of God. In short, Jesus is God. He is not the Father. He is not the Holy Spirit. He is distinct in person but same in Being. Jesus is God.
So, what does it mean that He is firstborn of all creation? Terminologically, this word is not describing a birthing order (that wouldn’t even make sense since He came long after everyone written about in the Old Testament.) No, firstborn is being used in the Greek context of the time, a statement of rank. It is saying that He is preeminent, in the highest position of authority over all of creation. And the reason that He has the right to rule in that role of authority is because He is God.