Sorry, I got involved into oneness debate last days. What is you position again? That Jesus is a person distinct from Father, but not God? That He is created?
Yes, that Jesus is distinct from the Father and created by the Father.
Jesus died on the cross. When there is "from" involved, it indicates that He is one of that group, so no.
Good. As I mentioned previously people claim the Greek word for firstborn, prōtotokos, can mean firstborn in the sense of being preeminent, which it certainly can. For example in Psalm 89:20, 27 King David is talked about as becoming the firstborn King even though Saul was the firstborn King of Israel. Thus it can be seen that firstborn/prōtotokos can be used in the sense of being preeminent. Hence, Trinitarians will argue that Jesus being “the firstborn of all creation” is in effect saying Jesus became the firstborn in the sense that he is the head/ruler of all creation instead of the literal first thing created.
Because of this highlighted defense I will not be using this same argument of Col 1:15, even though I do support the idea Jesus was indeed firstborn of all creation in the sense of time as the scripture so plainly states. My argument is that Jesus is clearly shown as part of creation regardless of the meaning of prōtotokos in the verse, so regardless if prōtotokos means firstborn in the sense of time or in the sense of rank, Jesus is still firstborn of creation by the statement found in Col 1:15. This is because, by definition, to be firstborn of a group you firstly need to be part of that group to then be called firstborn of it.
For example Jesus died and was resurrected; Jesus was in the group of the dead. Thus Col 1:18 says that Jesus is “the firstborn from the dead”. Now if Jesus didn’t die it would be obvious that he
could not be called firstborn from the dead, as to be firstborn from the dead you obviously needed to be dead in the first place, as you have already agreed.
To explain further can a kitten be the firstborn in a litter of puppies? No, because to be firstborn in a litter of puppies you must be part of that group, namely a puppy. I could use example after example to show that to be firstborn of a group you need to firstly be in that group. One could check every instance prōtotokos is used in the NT or the LXX and find that everything mentioned as being firstborn of something -regardless of the
sense- they are always part
of the group that they’re firstborn in.
Exodus 11:5 reads regarding the final plague of Egypt
“Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the female slave, who is at her hand mill, and all the firstborn of the cattle as well”
Who was it relating to when the verse reads “
every firstborn son in Egypt”? Obviously every firstborn son
in Egypt, who did it relate to when it says “
the firstborn son of Pharaoh”? Obviously a son
of Pharaoh, who did it relate to when it says “
firstborn son of the female slave”? Obviously the sons
of female slaves, who was it relating to when it says the “
firstborn of the cattle as well”? Obviously the
cattle.
In no instance does the bible ever relate the firstborn of something as someone
outside the group. Thus when it comes to Col 1:15 with Jesus being
“the firstborn of all creation” it’s irrefutable that Jesus is part of the creation he’s firstborn of.
In order to refute this, show me a single scripture in the bible or any modern literature where when someone who is spoken of as
firstborn of something, where they themselves
aren't in the group they're firstborn of?