God's First Born Son???

[M Paul]

How can both Israel and Christ be God's first born son?

Exodus 4:22
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
John 3:16
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
Colossians 1:15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
Matthew 2:15
And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Jeremiah 3:18,19
In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.
Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

M Paul

 

[WAB]

How can both Israel and Christ be God's first born son?

Exodus 4:22
And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn:
John 3:16
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
Colossians 1:15
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Hosea 11:1
When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.
Matthew 2:15
And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.

Jeremiah 3:18,19
In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers. But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.
Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

M Paul

To answer your question, one need only go a bit further in the Letter of Paul to the Colossians... where in verse 18a we find... "He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead..."

There is no contradiction when considered in context.

Shalom... WAB

 

[M Paul]

To answer your question, one need only go a bit further in the Letter of Paul to the Colossians... where in verse 18a we find... "He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead..."

There is no contradiction when considered in context.

Shalom... WAB

Thanks for the response. It's not necessarily an easy question. I was thinking on the lines of a leader and his people often having a very close identification. For instance, we say Napoleon invaded Russia, when we mean, France declared war on Russia. The Bible says render unto Caesar the things that are Ceasar's, meaning pay to the government of the Roman people their tax. Now, what is the name of this literary device?? I forgot, if I ever knew.

I suspect the intent of the Exodus passage is, in addition to looking at Christ as the first born of many brethern, to make this identification between Christ and the Jews, with him as their main leader, and the out of Egypt parallel is part of that system of thought. What do you think???

M Paul

 

[mythbuster]

Here are a few more verses to support Israel as God's son. (Besides the above verse in Exodus 4:22)

Jeremiah 31:9b, Hosea 11:1, and Romans 9:4a, refering to sonship as the right of inheritance. Also there is Luke 15:1,2 and 11-32 where the Lord likens the leaders to the firstborn son and sinners to the second son.

I think that in general this refers to the birthright of the Jews which was shifted to the church which now is called the church of the firstborn. (Heb. 12:23)

Also Jesus Christ, who is the (wonderful) only begotten Son (John 1:18 and 3:16, Heb 11:17 and elsewhere) becomes, in resurrection, the Firstborn Son of God, the Firstborn among many brothers. See Romans 8:29, Col. 1:18, Acts 13:33 for this.

So I am saying there is a difference between the Only begotten and the Firstborn as far as Christ is concerned,

Shalom

 

[M Paul]

Here are a few more verses to support Israel as God's son. (Besides the above verse in Exodus 4:22)

Jeremiah 31:9b, Hosea 11:1, and Romans 9:4a, refering to sonship as the right of inheritance. Also there is Luke 15:1,2 and 11-32 where the Lord likens the leaders to the firstborn son and sinners to the second son.

I think that in general this refers to the birthright of the Jews which was shifted to the church which now is called the church of the firstborn. (Heb. 12:23)

Also Jesus Christ, who is the (wonderful) only begotten Son (John 1:18 and 3:16, Heb 11:17 and elsewhere) becomes, in resurrection, the Firstborn Son of God, the Firstborn among many brothers. See Romans 8:29, Col. 1:18, Acts 13:33 for this.

So I am saying there is a difference between the Only begotten and the Firstborn as far as Christ is concerned,

Shalom

Thanks. A very intersting response with a lot of good citations. I copied your post, and I'll be looking at it these next few days,

Thanks again,

M Paul