Jesus Firstborn And Only-Begotten

The firstborn in the ancient Near East had certain privileges and responsibilities, collectively known under the label “primogeniture.” The firstborn was the principal heir of the family and upon the incapacitation of the father, through death or otherwise, the firstborn became the head of the family and received a greater inheritance than his other siblings. Even in biblical law, we can see this played a part in Jewish culture. Deuteronomy 21:15-17 declares that in the case of polygamy, a father could not refuse the firstborn his birthright according to preference. The firstborn of humans, animals, and the first fruits of a crop were sacred to God (Genesis 4:4;Exodus 13:1-2; Leviticus 27:26; Numbers 3:11-13; Deuteronomy 15:19)

Old Testament Background:

These passages use "firstborn" to denote a special status, not necessarily birth order. The biblical text lists several disruptions in the natural order of the first male for various reasons:

Ishmael was denied the birthright due to Sarah’s jealousy (Genesis 21:8-14).
Esau sold his birthright to Jacob (Genesis 25:29-34).
Reuben lost the birthright because of sin (Genesis 49:3-4).
Israel blessed Ephraim rather than Manasseh by Gods direction (Genesis 48:14).
Exodus 4:22 and Jeremiah 31:9 say that Israel is God's "firstborn" son, but also Ephraim is also called the "firstborn". We can follow this though the Old Testament when Israel (Jacob) gives the birthright to his youngest Joseph(1 Chronicles 5:1-2) and then Israel bestows a greater blessing on Joseph's youngest Ephraim (Genesis 48:13-15). Ephraim and Israel are then interchangeable in later scriptures, as seen in Hosea 11:8, 11:12; and Jeremiah 31:9, It also shows that firstborn is a special status for Israel/Ephraim was the first and only nation to be chosen by God.
David is the youngest of 7 sons in 1 Samuel 16:11, yet he is called God's firstborn in Psalm 89:27.
Here, Bildad refers to a disease that he describes as powerful and deadly as the firstborn of death in Job 18:13
Isaiah 14:30 "The firstborn of the poor will feed, and the needy will lie down in safety." uses the phrase "The firstborn of the poor" to indicate the poorest of the poor.

This demonstrates that in a biblical context, "firstborn" often represents spiritual and covenantal importance rather than a chronological position in family lineage.

New Testament Background:

In the New Testament, "firstborn" is applied to Jesus Christ and more both literally and symbolically.

Jesus is the "firstborn" of Mary (Luke 2:7)
Jesus as “the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom 8:29)
Jesus as “the firstborn of all creation” (Colossians 1:15)
Jesus as “the firstborn from the dead” (Colossians 1:18; - Revelation 1:5)
Jesus as the firstborn of God (Hebrews 1:6)
In Hebrews 12:23, the entire church is named as the "church of the firstborn."

The New Testament’s identification of Jesus as the firstborn—particularly Colossians 1:15—was pivotal in the Arian controversy. Arius used “the firstborn of all creation”, along with other biblical passages, as evidence that Jesus Christ was a created being and thus not of the same character as God (Kelly2000-wo). This trend has continued to this day with Jehovah Witness's) and Unitarianism.

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.

The use of "firstborn" shows His status as the principal heir and the one who holds authority over all things. However, to say that it means that Jesus was a created being is reading into the text, especially when viewed in light of the rest of the Bible that shows Jesus being God himself and that firstborn can be symbolic. The Bible can not be read as individual verses but as a whole.

Is Jesus "Begotten" (Born) From God?

The term "Son" in Scripture can have various meanings, including a representation of possessing the nature of something, whether it's literal or figurative. For instance, we see phrases like "son of man," "sons of thunder," or "sons of disobedience" in the Bible (Mark 3:7; Eph 2:1). When "son of" is used concerning a person, it typically implies that the son shares the nature or characteristics of his father.

With this is mind, when we talk about Jesus as the "Son of God," it's essential to clarify that this isn't meant in a literal, physical sense as if God physically procreated Jesus. Instead, it can be thought of that "Son of God" is a special title for Jesus, showing that Jesus is really close and connected to God, sharing his nature. Jesus is unique in His nature and role, unlike any other being in creation ( John 1:14; 3:16, 18 and 1 John 4:9).

Why Is Jesus Called The Son Of God?

The Bible actually states very plainly why Jesus is God's Son. We read why in the 2nd chapter of Luke;

Luke 1:30-35 - NASB

30. The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31. 'And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32. 'He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33. and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.' 34. Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I am a virgin?' 35. The angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

The reason stated is that because Jesus is made from the Holy Spirit (God) and Mary that He will be called "The Son of God".

Is the Jesus the only born (begotten) son of God?

In the most famous book of the bible, many recall the KJV of John 3:16;

John 3:16 - KJV

16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

The word "begotten" is also used in passages like Luke 7:12, 8:42, 9:38; John 1:18. The phrase "only begotten" comes from the Greek word μονογενής (monogenēs), traditionally thought to derive from "only" (μόνος, monos) and "to beget" (γίνομαι, ginomai). Not only does the translation “only begotten” seem to contradict the obvious statements in the Old Testament about other lesser sons of God, but it sounds as though there was a time when the Son did not exist—that He had a beginning. Thanks to a better understanding of Greek and many more manuscripts of the Greek New Testament, modern Bibles correctly now translate it as "only." The Lexham Bible Dictionary explains that μονογενής (monogenēs) actually originates from γένος (genos, meaning "class, kind").

The biblical concept of "firstborn" often represents spiritual and covenantal importance rather than a chronological position in family lineage. The correctly defined origin of "Firstborn" alters its meaning to "one of a kind" or "unique," without implying solitary existence or specific origin. This interpretation is supported by the New Testament, as exemplified in Hebrews 11:17, where Isaac, not Abraham's only son, is called his μονογενής (monogenēs), indicating his unique status as the son of the covenant. Just as YHWH is an אֱלֹהִים (Elohim), and no other אֱלֹהִים (Elohim) are YHWH, so Jesus is the unique μονογενής (monogenēs) son, and no other sons of God are like Him. Jesus is not a son of God; He is The Son of God.

The term "Son" in Scripture can have various meanings, including a representation of possessing the nature of something, whether it's literal or figurative. Jesus is unique in His nature and role, unlike any other being in creation. Therefore, when we speak of Jesus as the "Son of God," we mean that He has God's nature and bears a special title unlike any created thing.