Who does “firstborn” refer to in Hebrews 12:23?
Question:
In reading Hebrews 12:23 in another language, I noticed that "firstborn" is in the plural. Does it refer to the Christians in the church?
Answer:
One of the interesting results of studying with people with different backgrounds is that things will be pointed out that you never considered before. In English, "firstborn" is used for both singular and plural cases. Since Jesus is the firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15), I always understood this as another way of saying "church of Christ." Your question prompted me to double-check the Greek text, and I realized I was mistaken.
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel" (Hebrews 12:22-24).
Jesus is the firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15; Hebrews 1:6; Psalms 89:27). His followers are made joint heirs with him through their adoption as children of God (Romans 8:17,29; Galatians 4:1-7; Hosea 1:10). In Hebrews 12:23, "firstborn" is in the plural. It refers not to a single person, but a group of people who are considered firstborn.
The phrasing alludes back to the Old Testament, where the firstborn were initially selected to be God's priests (Exodus 13:2 11-16). Israel itself was referred to as God's firstborn (Exodus 4:22). In the New Testament, Christians are described as the chosen firstborn who are priests for God (I Peter 2:9). Unlike the Israelites, who were enrolled on earth under Moses (Numbers 3:40), Christians are enrolled in heaven.
Thus, we are discussing the church composed of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven.
