1. proteuo (prwteuvw, 4409), to be first (protos), to be preeminent. It is used of Christ in relation to the Church (Col 1:18).¶ 2. filoproteuo (filoprwteuvw, 5383), lit., to love to be preeminent (filos, lover), to strive to be first. It is said of Diotrephes (3 Joh_9 “Diotrephes, who likes to have first place”).¶
Source: Vine New Testament Dictionary
Paul’s determined confrontation with emerging Gnosticism (see) evokes this classic statement about the pre-eminence of Christ in Colossians 1:13ff. The Gnostic emphasis on the exaltation of angels, and the need for a subdivine mediator of creation to bridge the gap between perfect God and imperfect matter, forced Paul to highlight the difference between Gnosticism and Christianity with a concise statement about the lordship of Christ. The climax of the passage is the end of it in Col. 1:18: “that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
The evidences for Christ’s pre-eminence are ample: (1) he alone is the image of the invisible God (Col. 1:15; Jn. 1:14, 18; Heb. 1:3); (2) he is the preexistent creator and perpetual sustainer of the universe, the great Head of creation (Col. 1:15–17; Jn. 1:3; Heb. 1:2, 3); (3) he is the triumphant Head of the church, the first conqueror of death (Col. 1:13, 18; Eph. 1:20–23; 4:15, 16); (4) he is the possessor of all fullness, of virtue or blessing, especially the blessing of reconciliation with God (Col. 1:19, 20; 2:9; Jn. 1:16).
Paul leans heavily toward the OT and, in general, toward the Semitic background of the birthright. Twice, Christ is called the firstborn (prototokos, Col. 1:15, 18). In this condition of firstborn he is heir to the patrimony and authority of the Father. In this sense, we can contrast him with Reuben, who although he was the eldest son, wasted through incest his rights to pre-eminence (Gen. 49:3, 4), that is, to double inheritance (Deut. 21:17). and to higher blessings (Gen. 27:35ff.).
John points to the ambitious and irritable Diotrephes for rejecting apostolic authority and seeking pre-eminence (filoprōteuōn) reserved for Christ and his apostles (3 Jn. 9).
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- edie, Colossians; Lightfoot, Colossians and Philemon; R. L. Ottley, The Doctrine of the Incarnation, p. 107–110; J. Pedersen, Israel, Its Life and Culture, I–II, p. 258–259.
David A Hubbard
Harrison, EF, Bromiley, GW, & Henry, CFH (2006). Dictionary of Theology (483). Grand Rapids, MI: Challenge Books.
Source: Dictionary of Theology