Bible Verses About Firstborn from the Dead: 12

"And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy."

— Colossians 1:18 (NIV)

People who search bible verses about Firstborn from the Dead want Scripture on the firstborn from among the dead — Greek prōtotokos (G4416) in Colossians 1:18 and Revelation 1:5 — not only the broader firstborn title (firstborn over all creation / among many brothers). This page is a numbered list of twelve passages with the NIV text and a short note on each. Related lists: Bible verses about firstborn, Bible verses about resurrection, Bible verses about Jesus, Bible verses about hope, Bible verses about faith, Bible verses about eternal life, Bible verses about the church, and Bible verse of the day. Firstborn from the Dead here means the risen prōtotokos who opens the way out of death — distinct from firstborn-of-creation surveys alone. We do not ship /firstborn-of-all-creation twins this run.

Word study (lead theme). In Greek, πρωτότοκος prōtotokos (Strong's G4416; Bible Hub G4416) — firstborn, first-begotten; priority and preeminence, not merely birth order. Colossians 1:18 and Revelation 1:5 name him the firstborn from the dead. This list tracks that Firstborn from the Dead / prōtotokos ek tōn nekrōn vocabulary, not every firstborn title alone.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Colossians 1 presses that Christ is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence (Bible Hub MHC Colossians 1; Blue Letter Bible, Matthew Henry on Colossians 1). (Firstborn and resurrection live on those pages; this list centers prōtotokos from the dead.)

12 Bible verses about Firstborn from the Dead

1. Colossians 1:18. "And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy." The firstborn from among the dead — prōtotokos. See Bible verses about the church.

2. Revelation 1:5. "and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood," The firstborn from the dead. See Bible verses about Jesus.

3. 1 Corinthians 15:20. "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." Raised — the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. See Bible verses about resurrection.

4. 1 Corinthians 15:23. "But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." Christ, the firstfruits. See Bible verses about firstfruits.

5. Acts 26:23. "that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles." The first to rise from the dead. See Bible verses about hope.

6. Romans 14:9. "For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living." Lord of both the dead and the living. See Bible verses about faith.

7. Revelation 1:18. "I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades." I was dead — now alive for ever and ever. See Bible verses about eternal life.

8. Romans 6:9. "For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him." Raised from the dead — death no longer has mastery. See Bible verses about resurrection.

9. Acts 2:24. "But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him." God raised him from the dead. See Bible verses about God's power.

10. 1 Peter 1:3. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," Living hope through the resurrection. See Bible verses about hope.

11. John 11:25. "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;'" I am the resurrection and the life. See Bible verses about resurrection and life.

12. Philippians 3:10-11. "I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." The power of his resurrection. See Bible verses about faith.

How to use these verses

Pick one verse when you need the Firstborn from the Dead — not twelve as a grind. If you need Colossians 1:18 prōtotokos, start there. If you need Revelation's title, open Revelation 1:5. If you need firstfruits language, open 1 Corinthians 15:20. For the broader firstborn survey, open Bible verses about firstborn. For resurrection, open Bible verses about resurrection. For a daily verse, open Bible verse of the day.

Questions people ask

What is a good Bible verse about Firstborn from the Dead?

Colossians 1:18 (firstborn from among the dead), Revelation 1:5 (firstborn from the dead), and 1 Corinthians 15:20 (firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep) are clear starting places.

How do Bible verses about Firstborn from the Dead differ from firstborn alone?

Firstborn covers creation priority and family firstborn themes more broadly. This page centers prōtotokos from the dead — the risen one who opens the way — then cross-links firstborn and resurrection. See Bible verses about firstborn.

What does prōtotokos mean?

Greek prōtotokos (G4416) means firstborn — priority and preeminence. In Colossians 1:18 and Revelation 1:5 it names him firstborn from the dead.

Is Firstborn from the Dead the same as firstfruits of the resurrection?

Closely related. Firstfruits (1 Corinthians 15) stresses the harvest order; Firstborn from the Dead stresses preeminence out of death. Both point to the risen Christ. See Bible verses about firstfruits.

How can I remember these verses?

Read Colossians 1:18, then Revelation 1:5. Thank God that the Firstborn from the Dead holds supremacy and living hope. For faith beside that hope, open Bible verses about faith. For Jesus, open Bible verses about Jesus.

Sources

• Blue Letter Bible lexicon: G4416 (links above).
• Bible Hub Greek entries and Matthew Henry Concise on Colossians 1 (links above).
• Cross-links: firstborn, resurrection, Jesus, hope, faith, eternal life, the church, firstfruits, God's power, resurrection and life.