Firstborn

[37818]

The Greek term is used 9 times in the New Testament.

Twice, Jesus being His mother's first child, Matthew 1:25 and Luke 2:7.

5 times to refer to Jesus Christ, being part of His creation, being the first to be resurrected from the dead, Romans 8:29, Colossians 1:15, Colossians 1:18, Hebrews 1:5-6 and Revelation 1:5.

Twice in the plural.

Once referring to His church, the firstborn ones, Hebrews 12:23.

And once referring to the firstborn ones God spared in the original Passover, Hebrews 11:28.

 

[Van]

SNIP
Once referring to His church, the firstborn ones, Hebrews 12:23.
.

Thanks for the interesting and informative thread.

I take issue with your rendering of Hebrews 12:23.

The members of Christ's church are not the Firstborn ones, Christ is the Firstborn One.

 

[37818]

Thanks for the interesting and informative thread.

I take issue with your rendering of Hebrews 12:23.

The members of Christ's church are not the Firstborn ones, Christ is the Firstborn One.

The Greek is in the plural.
πανηγυρει και εκκλησια πρωτοτοκων εν ουρανοις απογεγραμμενων και κριτη θεω παντων και πνευμασι δικαιων τετελειωμενων

 

[Van]

The Greek is in the plural.
πανηγυρει και εκκλησια πρωτοτοκων εν ουρανοις απογεγραμμενων και κριτη θεω παντων και πνευμασι δικαιων τετελειωμενων

Yes, I see you are quite correct, ones is plural. My bad.
This is a genitive of possession, thus "...church of the Firstborn's ones."

 

[37818]

Yes, I see you are quite correct, ones is plural. My bad.
This is a genitive of possession, thus "...church of the Firstborn's ones."

Not "of the firstborn ones' "?

 

[Van]

Not "of the firstborn ones' "?

Right!