1:5 What does "first begotten of the dead" mean?
1:5 What does "first begotten of the dead" mean?
This refers to the resurrection. Jesus was the first person raised up from the dead (cp Ac 2:22-27; 26:23; Ro 8:29; 1Cor 15:20-23; Col 1:18; 1Pe 1:3).
Being the first person ever to rise from the dead to die no more gives Jesus pre-eminence among all the saints of God who will also be raised up to eternal life in due course.
That is why He is called the "first begotten from the dead". Christ's resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of everyone who has died believing in Him (cp Jn 14:19 with 1Cor 15:51-58; 1Th 4:13-18).