"Firstborn" Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means

"He is the firstborn over all creation." It's one of the most misunderstood phrases in the New Testament — and if you read it too quickly, you'll get it very wrong. In Day 20 of our Colossians devotional series, we slow down on this critical phrase in Colossians 1:15 and uncover one of the most foundational truths about who Jesus really is.

In this devotional, we explore:

→ Why "firstborn" does NOT mean Jesus was the first thing God created
 → How the Bible uses "firstborn" to refer to rank and exaltation, not birth order
→ Examples from Scripture: God calling Israel His "firstborn" and David being made the "firstborn" though not the literal eldest son
→ The towering claim Paul is making: Jesus is supreme over everything — not part of creation, but its Creator
→ Why the early church had to settle this question once and for all at the Council of Nicaea (whose 1,700th anniversary we just marked last year!)
→ The crucial truth defined at Nicaea: "There was never a time when Jesus did not exist"
→ Why the virgin birth matters — and what it really proves (hint: it's not about embarrassment over sex)
→ How Jesus preexists His incarnation as the eternal Logos — present at the very beginning of creation
→ Why a small view of Jesus throws everything else off

Key takeaway: "It is impossible for us to think too highly of Jesus. He is certainly not just a teacher, a moral example, or even a spiritual leader. He is all of those things — and so much more. If your view of Jesus is too small, everything else will be off. But if you begin to see Jesus as He truly is — eternal, sovereign, supreme — then things start to come into focus."

This devotional is a powerful, theologically rich invitation to lift your eyes higher than you ever have when you think about Jesus. He's not the side issue. He is the very center.

📖 Scripture Focus: Colossians 1:15
🎯 Series: Colossians Chapter 1 Devotional
⏮️ Catch up on Parts 1-19 if you're just joining us!
⏭️ Coming Tomorrow: We continue exploring the supremacy of Christ

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💬 Drop a comment below: Has your view of Jesus grown bigger through this series? What's stretched you most?

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