“የበኩር ልጅዋንም እስክትወልድ ድረስ አላወቃትም” (Matthew 1:25): EOTC’s Perspective Part I

 

The phrase “የበኩር ልጅዋንም እስክትወልድ ድረስ አላወቃትም” (Matthew 1:25) has often led to confusion regarding the term "firstborn" (በኩር). Many people mistakenly interpret “በኩር” or “የበኩር ልጅ” as implying that an individual must have followers. However, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) provides a scriptural and theological interpretation for this term. This essay explores the biblical meaning of "firstborn" “(በኩር)” from the EOTC perspective, emphasizing its significant implications for affirming Christ’s unique and eternal nature as the Son of God, without origin or successor.

The Holy Bible provides a clearer understanding of the term “በኩር” as follows:

In Exodus 13፥1-2 it is written “እግዚአብሔር ሙሴን ከእስራኤል ልጆች ዘንድ ከሰውም ከእንስሳትም ማኅጸንን የሚከፍት በኩር ሁሉ ለእኔ ቀድስልኝ የእኔ ነው።”

Within this context, “በኩር” straightforwardly refers to any child born first, meaning those who emerge from their mother's womb for the first time. It is not mandatory to have siblings for the firstborn. If one fails to grasp this fundamental concept, he or she encounters a risk of falling into significant misunderstanding.

For example, in Colossians 1:15-16, we find a profound statement about Christ that says, “ከፍጥረት ሁሉ በፊት በኩር ነው”. If we interpret "በኩር" as an indicator of rank or a comparison with other beings, we could erroneously conclude that the Lord is merely another creature, created before all other creations. This interpretation leads such interpreters into serious heretical territory that deviates from core Christian beliefs.

Furthermore, Hebrews 1:6 states, “ደግሞም በኵርን ወደ ዓለም ሲያገባ፦ የእግዚአብሔር መላእክት ሁሉም ለእርሱ ይስገዱ:: “ This verse speaks about Christ, and if we view “በኵር” through fleshly lens, again we easily fall into significant error. Here, Christ as “በኵር” signifies that God the Father sent His Son—who has neither beginning nor end—into the world to be born and ultimately crucified for the sake of humanity. Since this verse mentions “በኵር”, does it suggest that God the Father has a Son other than Christ? A literal interpretation of biblical terms leads to profound theological errors.

Thus, when we read “የበኩር ልጇን ወለደች,” it signifies that Mary gave birth to the Lord—one who is eternal and exists without beginning and successor (ተከታይ). This understanding underscores the divine nature of Christ, setting Him apart from any fleshly-oriented concept of lineage or “በኩር”.

In conclusion, clarifying the meaning of "በኵር" is crucial for accurately understanding Christ's role in the Christian faith. Misinterpretations surrounding this term can lead to larger theological errors, impacting our understanding of God's nature and His relationship with humanity. By embracing the biblical meaning of “በኩር,” we affirm the unique and eternal identity of Christ as the Son of God, who has no beginning and successor.