Biblical paradigm of the First/Second born

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The First/Second born form a repeating paradigm throughout the Bible. The First born is rejected while the Second born is accepted and/or blessed. The second-born is favored over the first-born and is superior to the first born. This paradigm extends from the Septuagint or Old Testament thru to the New Testament. Mostly this is expressed physically in a birth order within a family but in other occasions, it is exhibited in a purely metaphysical way. It is symobolized many times within the Old Testament and becomes a major theological point for both Jesus Christ in the Gospels and St. Paul the Apostle in his letters.

It is this theological element that forms one of the most basic tenets of Christianity and is why Christianity developed into a seperate religion from Judiasm.

Violence and jealousy accompany this model throughout its manifestations for the First-born often seeks the death of the Second-born.

Old Testament imagery

The archtype of all the examples of the First/Second born paradigm is the story of Cain and Abel. Cain is the First-born while Abel is the Second-born. In Genesis ch. 4, God accepts the sacrifice of the Second-born while rejecting the First-born's sacrifice. God warns Cain against jealousy but it is this vice that causes Cain to kill Abel.

Through symbol, this paradigm of the First/Second born exhibits itself almost immediately in a metaphysical way in the very first chapter of Genesis. In verse (2), darkness was everywhere, therefore, first, and then God created Light. Light is the second born; the greater element being light. In Jewish cosmology, a day is calculated from dusk to dusk; i.e. from one full night and one full day. It follows the paradigm; Night first, Day second.

The Patriarch of the Israelite nation, Abraham, has two sons; the First-born is an illegitimate son, Ishmael, born of a slave woman and it is the Second-born son, Isaac that receives the blessing of God and inherits the destiny of Abraham. God confers on both sons the blessing of being Patriarchs of great nations but only one race, that from the loins of Isaac, earns the position of being highly favored of God. Ishmael recieves the spirit of antagonsim (i.e. Septuagint, Genesis ch 16.11f). In this instance, there is no hostility between the First-born and the Second-born but Ishmael is forced to leave permanently a second time from the household and doesn't inherit his father's wealth.

In Septuagint, Genesis 25.23, Isaac fathers twins in Rebecca. It is the Second-born that is favored over the First-born:

"And the Lord said to her, There are two nations in thy womb and two peoples shall be separated from thy belly, and one people shall excel the other, and the elder shall serve the younger".

Essau is the First-born and the Second-born is Jacob and his name is changed to Israel and becomes the Patriarch of Israelite nation. There is hostility between the two, for the younger with the help of his mother outwits Essau for the birthright. Later on though, the Israelites do manage to eliminate the Edomite tribe.

Jacob, the Patriarch, is then the father of twelve sons. In this example, not God, but Jacob favors his second to the last child, Joseph. His other sons are jealous of Joseph. They first conspire to kill him but then relent and sell him into slavery where Joseph becomes vizer of Egypt and during a time of famine helps his family with refuge in Egypt. The First-born sons are slighted, and the almost last-born (Second-born) becomes the hero.

In another metaphysical metaphor, God then calls the Israelite people to leave the land of Egypt and directs them to Canaan. As in the first metaphysical example, the indigenous people are the first born of the land, and the Israelite people move in supplanting the first. In this case, the Israelite people, taking possession of the land, are the Second-born. The First-born indigenous people are moved out and another Second-born are installed on it. The Second are blessed to receive it while the First-born are cursed with destruction.

Around 1000 B.C., the Israelite people clamor for a king to be established over them. Reluctantly, God does so. Saul from the tribe of Benjamin is installed as the first king but he is soon to find disfavor. King Saul breaks several of God's commands and God rejects him. A second king is annoited by a prophet of God. Again, in a metaphysical way, the first king is rejected, and a Second king finds favor. It is this kingship that succeeds, King David. The paradigm of the First/Second born is here in a metaphysical way again. King Saul is the First-born and King David is the Second-born. The First-born is rejected and the Second-born becomes acceptable. Furthermore, King Saul, like Cain and the first-born of Jacob, spends a lot of time trying to kill David. It is from the line of King David, the Second-born, that the Messiah will arise.

New Testament references

The paradigm of the First/Second born is shown first in a metaphysical symbol with St. John the Baptist coming first and preparing the way for the Second-born, Jesus Christ. The baptism and ministry of St. John is imperfect but forshadowes the Christian baptism initiation rite and future message of repentance where the Second ministry of Jesus being perfect and excellent. St. John is the precusor to Jesus.

The paradigm of the First/Second born comes into importance in the preaching of Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of John chapter 3, Jesus brings this paradigm to life and gives it theological significance for this new faith.

3 Jesus answered and said to him, �Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.�

4 Nicodemus said to Him, �How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother�s womb and be born?�

5 Jesus answered, �Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again."

8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.�

Here Jesus is demanding one be "born again" meaning "Second-born". Flesh is the First-born and all men are born to flesh. Jesus is teaching that men must become Second-born; born of water and the Spirit. Men must become spiritual and live according to spiritual values. The First-born man is rejected. To be acceptable in the Kingdom of God, one must be Second-born. In this need of rebirth, it is important to note that Jesus himself underwent baptism by the hand of St. John.

The parable of The Wicked Husbandmen is an allusion to the First/Second born paradigm. In it, Jesus says that the first husbandmen will be rejected because of their evilness, and a second group will be blessed with the mission.