πρωτότοκος

prwtovtoko" prwtovtoko",
prwtovtokon (
prw'to",
tivktw), the Septuagint for r/kB], firstborn; a. properly:
tovn
uiJovn
aujth'"
tovn
prwtovtokon, (where
tovn
prwtovtokon is omitted by L T Tr WH but found in the Sinaiticus manuscript. (see Tdf., WH., at the passage)); ;
tav
prwtovtoka
aujtw'n (genitive of the possessor ((?);
aujtw'n is more naturally taken with
qivgh/ (Winer's Grammar, sec. 30, 8 c.), as by Prof. Grimm himself under the word
qiggavnw)), the firstborn whether of than or of beast, (
pa'n
prwtovtokon ...
ajpov
ajnqrwvpou
e{w"
kthvnou", ; (); (Philo de cherub. sec. 16; Pollux 4, 208)). b. tropically Christ is called
prwtovtoko"
pavsh"
ktivsew" (partitive genitive (see below), as in
tav
prwtovtoka
tw'n
probavtwn, ;
tw'n
bow'n, ;
tw'n
uiJw'n
sou, ), who came into being through God prior to the entire universe of created things (R. V. the firstborn of all creation) (see
ktivsi", 2 b.), ; -- this passage does not with certainty prove that Paul reckoned the
lovgo" in the number of created beings (as, among others, Usteri, Paulin. Lehrbegriff., p. 315, and Baur, Das Christenthum der drei ersten Jahrhh. 1st edition, p. 295, hold); since even Origen, who is acknowledged to have maintained the eternal generation of the Son by the Father, did not hesitate to call him (cf. Gieseler, Kirch.-Gesch. i., p. 261f edition 3; (i. 216 English translation, of edition 4, edited by Smith))
tovn
ajgenhton
kaiv
pavsh"
geneth'"
fuvsew"
prwtovtokon (c. Celsus 6, 17), and even
ktivsma (a term which Clement of Alexandria also uses of the
lovgo"); cf. Joan. Damascen. orthod. fid. 4, 8
kaiv
aujtov"
ejk
tou'
Qeou'
kaiv
hJ
ktivsi"
ejk
tou'
Qeou'; (others would make the genitive in Colossians, the passage cited depend upon the comparitive force in (the first half of)
prwtovtoko" (cf.
prwtovtoko"
ejgwv
h[
suv, ); but see Lightfoot at the passage (especially for the patristic interpretation)). In the same sense, apparently, he is called simply
oJ
prwtovtoko", ;
prwtovtoko"
ejk
tw'n
nekrw'n, the first of the dead who was raised to life, ; also
tw'n
nekrw'n (partitive genitive), (Rec. inserts
ejk);
prwtovtoko"
ejn
polloi'"
ajdelfoi'", who was the Son of God long before those who by his agency and merits are exalted to the nature and dignity of sons of God, with the added suggestion of the supreme rank by which he excels these other sons (cf. (Ps. lxxxix.)28; ; (), ;
ejkklhsiva
prwtotovkwn, the congregation of the pious Christian dead already exalted to the enjoyment of the blessedness of heaven (tacitly opposed to those subsequently to follow them thither), ; cf. DeWette ad loc. (Anthol. 8, 34; 9, 213.)*