Definition and Meaning:
Pre-eminence refers to the state of being superior or surpassing all others in rank, authority, or importance. In a biblical context, it often denotes the supreme status of Christ and His authority over all creation.

Biblical References:

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 all things He may have preeminence."
This verse highlights the pre-eminence of Christ in the church and creation. As the "head of the body," Christ holds the highest authority and is the source of life and direction for the church. His resurrection as the "firstborn from among the dead" signifies His victory over death, affirming His supreme position.

2. Hebrews 1:3-4 :
"The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs."
These verses emphasize the pre-eminence of Christ over all spiritual beings, including angels. His position at the "right hand of the Majesty on high" signifies His authority and honor, underscoring His unique role in the divine order.

3. Philippians 2:9-11 :
"Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
This passage illustrates the exaltation of Christ to the highest place of honor, affirming His pre-eminence. The universal acknowledgment of His lordship reflects His ultimate authority and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

Theological Significance:

The concept of pre-eminence is central to understanding the nature and work of Christ. It affirms His divine authority, His role in creation, and His redemptive work. The pre-eminence of Christ is foundational to Christian doctrine, emphasizing His unique position as both fully God and fully man. This doctrine assures believers of Christ's sovereignty and His ability to fulfill God's purposes in history and in individual lives.

Christ's Pre-eminence in Creation and Redemption:

Christ's pre-eminence is not limited to His role within the church but extends to all creation. As stated in Colossians 1:16-17 , "For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." This passage underscores Christ's active role in creation and His sustaining power over the universe.

In redemption, Christ's pre-eminence is demonstrated through His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection. His work on the cross provides the means for reconciliation between God and humanity, establishing Him as the central figure in God's plan of salvation.

Practical Implications for Believers:

Understanding Christ's pre-eminence encourages believers to live in submission to His authority, recognizing His lordship in every aspect of life. It calls for a response of worship, obedience, and trust in His sovereign will. Believers are reminded of the assurance and hope found in Christ's supreme power and His ultimate victory over sin and death.4409. proteuo -- to have the first place
... to have the first place. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: proteuo Phonetic
Spelling: (prote-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I have preeminence, am chief ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4409.htm - 6k

5383. philoproteuo -- to strive to be first
... to be first. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: philoproteuo Phonetic Spelling:
(fil-op-rote-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I desire preeminence Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5383.htm - 6k

5247. huperoche -- a projection, eminence
... superiority, excellence Definition: superiority, excellence, preeminence, authority ...
mountain peak, hence, metaphorically, 'pre-eminence, superiority, excellency ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5247.htm - 7k

4053. perissos -- abundant
... Short Definition: abundant, greater, vehemently, advantage Definition: more, greater,
excessive, abundant, exceedingly, vehemently; noun: preeminence, advantage ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4053.htm - 8k

4284. proecho -- to hold before
... pro-ekh-om-ahee) Short Definition: I excel, surpass Definition: trans: I hold before;
mid: I excuse myself; intrans: I project, excel, surpass, have preeminence ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4284.htm - 6k

5236. huperbole -- a throwing beyond, excess, superiority
... Spelling: (hoop-er-bol-ay') Short Definition: surpassing excellence, exceedingly
Definition: excess, surpassing excellence, preeminence; adv: exceedingly. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5236.htm - 7k

4410. protokathedria -- the chief seat
... chief seat. From protos and kathedra; a sitting first (in the front row), ie
Preeminence in council -- chief (highest, uppermost) seat. see GREEK protos. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4410.htm - 6k

4411. protoklisia -- the chief place (at the table)
... From protos and klisia; a reclining first (in the place of honor) at the
dinner-bed, ie Preeminence at meals -- chief (highest, uppermost) room. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4411.htm - 6k

4195. mothar -- abundance, preeminence
... mothar. 4196 . abundance, preeminence. Transliteration: mothar Phonetic Spelling:
(mo-thar') Short Definition: advantage. ... plenteousness, preeminence, profit. ...
/hebrew/4195.htm - 6k

3499a. yether -- remainder, excess, preeminence
... 3499, 3499a. yether. 3499b . remainder, excess, preeminence. Transliteration:
yether Short Definition: rest. Word Origin from yathar ...
/hebrew/3499a.htm - 5k

3499. yether -- remainder, excess, preeminence
... 3498, 3499. yether. 3499a . remainder, excess, preeminence. Transliteration:
yether Phonetic Spelling: (yeh'-ther) Short Definition: abundant. ...
/hebrew/3499.htm - 5k

3504. yithron -- advantage, profit
... better, excellent, profitable. From yathar; preeminence, gain -- better,
excellency(-leth), profit(-able). see HEBREW yathar. 3503, 3504. yithron. 3505 . ...
/hebrew/3504.htm - 6k

3498. yathar -- to remain over
... root Definition to remain over NASB Word Usage abound (1), had some left (1), had
left (1), have preeminence (1), leave (3), leave a remnant (1), leave of it ...
/hebrew/3498.htm - 6k

The Pre-Eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
... The Pre-Eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ. ... i:18). But who can tell out what
a pre-eminence, the pre-eminence of the Lord Jesus Christ is? ...
/.../gaebelein/the lord of glory/the pre-eminence of the lord.htm

Of those who Covet Pre-Eminence, and Seize on the Language of the ...
... Of those who covet pre-eminence, and seize on the language of the Apostle
to serve the purpose of their own cupidity. But for the ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter viii of those who.htm

It Is, Moreover, in a Very Unphilosophical Spirit that Celsus ...
... Chapter XL. It is, moreover, in a very unphilosophical spirit that Celsus
imagines our Lord's pre-eminence among? It is, moreover ...
/.../origen/origen against celsus/chapter xl it is moreover.htm

That the Mind of those who Wish for Pre-Eminence for the Most Part ...
... IX. That the mind of those who wish for pre-eminence for the most part
flatters itself with a feigned promise of good works. But ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/chapter ix that the mind.htm

Dignity and Service
... they were to be now taught was not so much the qualifications for pre-eminence in
the kingdom, whether here or hereafter, as the meaning of preeminence and the ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/dignity and service.htm

All Fulness in Christ
... Read the words immediately preceding the text, and you find it declared that
our Lord Jesus is in all things to have the pre-eminence. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/all fulness in christ.htm

Since Then, in Reference to Our Hope of the Resurrection, Christ ...
... the head of every creature, as it is written, "Who is the head of all, the first
born from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence;" how is ...
/.../7 since then in reference.htm

Whether Order is Properly Defined?
... But power properly denotes active potentiality, together with some kind of preeminence. ...
than another, it follows that this degree of pre-eminence by spiritual ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether order is properly defined.htm

Whether in Christ There was the Gift of Fear?
... And hence it is plain that no one is feared except for some pre-eminence.
And in this way it is said that in Christ there was the ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether in christ there was 3.htm

The Trinitarian Controversy.
... He fully admits that the early fathers acknowledged a certain pre-eminence in the
First Person, but only such a pre-eminence as the term Father suggests, a pre ...
/.../chapter vi the trinitarian controversy.htm

Preeminence (5 Occurrences)
... in prominence or in excellence; distinction above others in quality or rank; rarely,
in a bad sense, superiority or notoriety in evil; as, preeminence in honor ...
/p/preeminence.htm - 8k

Pre-eminence (6 Occurrences)
Pre-eminence. Preeminence, Pre-eminence. Preeminent . Multi-Version Concordance ...
(See JPS DBY WBS). Preeminence, Pre-eminence. Preeminent . Reference Bible
/p/pre-eminence.htm - 8k

Excellency (53 Occurrences)
... greatness"); huperoche, "a holding over" or "beyond," is translated "excellency"
(1 Corinthians 2:1), and to huperechon, "the pre-eminence" (Philippians 3:8 ...
/e/excellency.htm - 25k

First-born (110 Occurrences)
... Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning,
the first-born from the dead; that in all things he may have the pre-eminence...
/f/first-born.htm - 41k

Bread (433 Occurrences)
... BREAD. bred (lechem; artos): I. DIETARY PREEMINENCE II. MATERIALS 1. Barley
2. Wheat 3. Three Kinds of Flour III. ... I. Dietary Preeminence. ...
/b/bread.htm - 58k

First-fruits (45 Occurrences)
... Genesis 49:3 Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength;
The pre-eminence of dignity, and the pre-eminence of power. (See JPS). ...
/f/first-fruits.htm - 27k

Glory (590 Occurrences)
... seems to be "weight," "heaviness," and hence in its primary uses it conveys the
idea of some external, physical manifestation of dignity, preeminence or majesty ...
/g/glory.htm - 71k

Yahweh (6653 Occurrences)
... The center of the world had changed-for Assyria had gone to its long home, and
the city claiming preeminence was not Nineveh but Babylon. ...
/y/yahweh.htm - 39k

Zidon (25 Occurrences)
... From the time of David its glory began to wane, and Tyre, its "virgin daughter"
(Isaiah 23:12), rose to its place of pre-eminence. ...
/z/zidon.htm - 17k

Nicopolis (1 Occurrence)
... of his preaching at Patras, Zacynthus, Cephallenia, Corcyra (the modern Corfu),
which, as a way-station to and from Sicily, always held preeminence among the ...
/n/nicopolis.htm - 10k

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