Từ prototokos có nghĩa là gì trong colossians 1 15 năm 2024

New English Translation (NET)

Version

Previous Next

The Supremacy of Christ

15 [] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn[] over all creation,[] 16 for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions,[] whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him. 17 He himself is before all things and all things are held together[] in him.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. sn This passage has been typeset as poetry because many scholars regard this passage as poetic or hymnic. These terms are used broadly to refer to the genre of writing, not to the content. There are two broad criteria for determining if a passage is poetic or hymnic: “(a) stylistic: a certain rhythmical lilt when the passages are read aloud, the presence of parallelismus membrorum (i.e., an arrangement into couplets), the semblance of some metre, and the presence of rhetorical devices such as alliteration, chiasmus, and antithesis; and (b) linguistic: an unusual vocabulary, particularly the presence of theological terms, which is different from the surrounding context” (P. T. O’Brien, Philippians [NIGTC], 188-89). Classifying a passage as hymnic or poetic is important because understanding this genre can provide keys to interpretation. However, not all scholars agree that the above criteria are present in this passage, so the decision to typeset it as poetry should be viewed as a tentative decision about its genre.
2. tn The Greek term πρωτότοκος (prōtotokos) could refer either to first in order of time, such as a first born child, or it could refer to one who is preeminent in rank. M. J. Harris, Colossians and Philemon (EGGNT), 43, expresses the meaning of the word well: “The ‘firstborn’ was either the eldest child in a family or a person of preeminent rank. The use of this term to describe the Davidic king in Ps 88:28 LXX (=Ps 89:27 EVV), ‘I will also appoint him my firstborn (πρωτότοκον), the most exalted of the kings of the earth,’ indicates that it can denote supremacy in rank as well as priority in time. But whether the πρωτό- element in the word denotes time, rank, or both, the significance of the -τοκος element as indicating birth or origin (from τίκτω, give birth to) has been virtually lost except in ref. to lit. birth.” In Col 1:15 the emphasis is on the priority of Jesus’ rank as over and above creation (cf. 1:16 and the “for” clause referring to Jesus as Creator).
3. tn The genitive construction πάσης κτίσεως (pasēs ktiseōs) is a genitive of subordination and is therefore translated as “over all creation.” See ExSyn 103-4.
4. tn BDAG 579 s.v. κυριότης 3 suggests “bearers of the ruling powers, dominions” here.
5. tn BDAG 973 s.v. συνίστημι B.3 suggests “continue, endure, exist, hold together” here.

dropdown

New English Translation (NET)

NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.

"Firstborn of every creature" does not mean that Christ was "born first" in the sense of being the first created being. Rather it refers to Christ's position of supremacy over all of creation by virtue of the fact that He is the Creator of all things (verse 16).

Notice the word "For" at the beginning of verse 16. This word introduces a reason or explanation for what Paul had just said in verse 15. Why is Christ the firstborn of every creature? It is because He created all things (verse 16).

The word "firstborn" in Colossians 1:15 refers to positional priority not temporal priority. See Exodus 4:22 where Israel is called God's "firstborn." Israel was not the first nation that God brought into existence, but positionally as God's chosen and privileged nation Israel was supreme. In Psalm 89:27 King David is placed as firstborn, but David was actually the last-born son of Jesse! The term obviously was not used to denote chronological order. Thus the term is used in Colossians 1:15 to express Christ's priority to and preeminence over creation. He outranks every created thing because He is the Creator!

There is a Greek word which means first created (protoktistos) but Paul did not use this word of Christ.

The Jehovah's Witness translators of the Bible (New World Translation) have added the word "other" four times in Colossians 1:16-17 even though it is not in the Greek text. Their view is that Jehovah created Christ and that Christ then created all other creatures! However this contradicts John 1:3 which says that everything that was made was made by Christ. If Christ was made (as the Jehovah's Witnesses wrongly teach), then John 1:3 would imply that Christ made Himself (which the Jehovah's Witnesses do not teach). Instead, John 1:3 teaches that Christ is the uncreated Creator!

Colossians 1:17 teaches that Christ is before all things. If Jehovah created Christ, as Jehovah Witnesses teach, then we could say that Jehovah is before all things. (Jehovah existed even before Christ was created, according to Jehovah's Witness doctrine.) But it would not be true that Christ is before all things. This is why the Jehovah's Witnesses must insert the word "other." [Christ is before all (other) things.] Remove the word "other" (which is not found in the Greek text and should be removed) and the verse contradicts Jehovah Witness doctrine. Those who believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Creator-God have no problem with these verses exactly as they are in the Greek text. There is no need to insert the word "other."