Colossians 1:15
It is claimed that Colossians 1:15 must not be misunderstood as saying that Jesus is himself a created being. Actually, since "firstborn of all creation" is in Colossians 1:15 is in the partitive genitive, that is, the genitive which contains as a part of its contents the thing or things mentioned in the noun that governs the genitive, I believe that it means what it says, that Jesus is indeed the first one to be born, brought forth, by God. Of course, in reality, "firstborn" in Colossians 1:15 means the same thing as it does all through the scriptures.
http://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-greek/2003-July/025858.htmlhttp://lists.ibiblio.org/pipermail/b-greek/1998-November/002539.htmlNevertheless, because Jesus is the firstborn creature, then he does indeed have the rights of firstborn over all creation, including the privilege of being used by the "invisible God", spoken of Colossians 1:15, as the means of creating all other creation, "for by [by means of*] him all things [Greek ta panta, which phrase always look to context and evidence for inclusion or exclusion -- it thus evident that Jesus (as well as his God) are excluded -- 1 Corinthians 15:27] made". (Colossians 1:16) This, however, does not exclude Jesus from being a part of the creation of which he is the firstborn.
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*Greek, en - Strong's #1722, instrumentality used
http://bible.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Greek/grk.cgi?number=1722The word "firstborn" is always used in the Bible in either of two settings: as being the firstborn offspring of a father (as in Genesis 25:13), or as being part of the group being spoken of. Nevertheless even when used as the firstborn offspring of a father, it is still the group of children that the offspring of the father that the firstborn is a member of. For instance, In Exodus 11:5 we find: 'the firstborn of Pharaoh' is one of the group that would make up Pharaoh's offspring. Still, since Colossians 1:15 is definitely not saying that Jesus is the offspring of creation, making the creation the father, the other alternative is that Jesus is definitely included as part of the creation of which he is firstborn. In no case does "firstborn" mean that the firstborn did not have a beginning, or that the firstborn is not included in the group of which he is firstborn.
http://godandson.reslight.net/jesus-beginning.htmlChristian love,
Ronald
