What does it mean that Jesus is the firstborn from the dead (Colossians 1:18)?

The apostle Paul wrote his letter to the Colossians to counter false teachings circulating through the church. He applied correct teaching, concentrating on the supremacy of Jesus Christ in all things. After a brief salutation (Colossians 1:1–2) and prayer (Colossians 1:3–14), Paul begins to answer this question: who is Jesus Christ? In his opening argument (Colossians 1:15–23), Paul states that Jesus is “the firstborn of all creation” and “the firstborn from the dead.”

Some scholars believe Colossians 1:15–20 was part of an early church hymn or creed that Paul may have adapted to fit the situation in the Colossian church. This worship anthem celebrates Jesus Christ as the sovereign Lord, Creator, and Redeemer of all things. Paul begins, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 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” (Colossians 1:15–18, ESV).

Twice in this section, the apostle Paul uses the Greek word prōtotokos, translated as “firstborn.” He applies the term not in the sense of being first in time but first or highest in status, supremacy, exceptionality, and sovereignty. In Old Testament contexts, the firstborn son held a preeminent position in the family with special rights and privileges. Jesus is the ultimate head of creation. There is no one higher than He. Paul most likely presented this argument because false teachers were attempting to diminish Christ’s status by encouraging the worship of angels and other created beings (see Colossians 2:18; Romans 1:25).

In Colossians 1:18, Paul stresses that Jesus, as “firstborn from among the dead,” is the sovereign leader of the church. The church would not exist without Christ. He is its source of life (John 1:4; 11:25–26; 14:6; 17:3; 1 John 1:1–2; 5:12; Revelation 7:17).

Christ’s positional supremacy over all things, particularly in the church, belongs to Him because of His work of atonement and reconciliation. Jesus laid down His life on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and then become “the first to rise from the dead. . . . All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us” (Revelation 1:5, NLT).

Jesus is “the firstborn from the dead,” even though other people had died and were raised to life before Jesus. These include the widow of Nain’s son (Luke 7:11–17), Jairus’s daughter (Luke 8:49–56), Lazarus (John 11:1–44), and several in the Old Testament (1 King 17:17–24; 2 Kings 4:18–37; 13:20–21). But Jesus is the first to rise immortal. He conquered death and never will die again (Acts 2:24; Hebrews 2:14–18; 2 Timothy 1:10; Revelation 1:18). His resurrection life now gives eternal life to all who believe in Him (John 14:19).

The resurrection life of all believers is founded on Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Before Jesus died, our sins separated us from God. We were destined to die and face judgment for our sins (Genesis 2:17; Hebrews 9:27; Romans 6:23). But now that Christ has risen from the dead, we can be saved and reconciled to God (1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 9:28). Because of His sacrifice, we can be forgiven, made right with God, and adopted into His family. We have eternal life with God because of what Christ did for us (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13—5:11). We live with hope, knowing that one day our dying physical bodies will be transformed into immortal ones that will dwell forever in God’s kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:50–54).

As the firstborn from the dead, Jesus Christ is supremely reigning as Savior and Lord. He is the One who guarantees resurrection life for everyone who belongs to Him: “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back” (1 Corinthians 15:20–23, NLT; see also Acts 26:23).