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The concept of First in Christianity

The keyphrase "First" encompasses various interpretations across religious traditions like Christianity, Gnosticism, Protestantism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Church of the East, and the Catholic Church. In Christianity, "First" refers to pivotal elements such as the first son who initially resisted work, God being the first and last, and the first commandment highlighting love and devotion. It also captures the significance of early Christian figures and events, underlining the foundational aspects of faith and morality as seen through the lens of comparative religious teachings.1
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Synonyms: Primary, Foremost, Earliest, Original, Beginning, Leading, Pioneer, Introductory

In Finnish: 贰苍蝉颈尘尘盲颈苍别苍; In Dutch: Eerst; In Spanish: Primero; In Malay: Pertama; In German: Erste; In Swedish: 贵枚谤蝉迟补; In French: D'abord

The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.

Christian concept of 'First'

Christianity Books

Significance in Early Christian church and writers:
Early Christianity Books

From: Ante-nicene Fathers

(1) This term describes the beginning, and it is used in the context of dating methods and astronomical observations.[1] (2) Some people believe that Nero, who was the first persecutor, will also be the last persecutor, and thus prove the forerunner of Antichrist.[2] (3) This is what the team is.[3] (4) Within a series of beings, some are designated as the first, initiating a sequence, but identifying the exact nature of the first exceeds human understanding.[4] (5) The text describes heaven and earth as this, indicating that they passed away, signifying a transition or loss of their original form.[5]

From: Gospel of Thomas Commentary

(1) Those who will be last. This is a reversal of status.[6]

Early Christianity (also known as Early Church) refers to the period starting roughly in the 6th century BC up until 325 A.D. during which year the first council of Nicaea was convened. Popular literature includes the writings by the early Church Fathers which forms the basis of later Christian theology.

Significance in Christianity (general):

From: Expositions of Holy Scripture

(1) The royal Christ proclaims His absolute life by stating He is this, and the last, and the living One, according to the text.[7] (2) This is what the original little group that had gathered round Him at the first, and to whom He had been so often manifested in this very scene where they were standing now, were.[8] (3) The text states that the need for a second purifying indicated how sadly transient had been the effect of 'the first', and was thus evidence of the depth of corruption and formalism to which the religion of priests and people had sunk.[9] (4) The text mentions that the Corinthian church had been the first to agree to the project, and then had very distinctly hung back from implementing its promises and fulfilling its good intentions.[10] (5) There is an obvious antithesis in the first part of it, between 'His anger' and 'His favour,' and the first of these two contrasts is the more striking if we observe that the word 'joy' means, literally, 'a joyful shout,' so that the voice which was lifted in weeping is conceived of as now being heard in exultant praise.[11]

From: Bible cyclopedia, critical and expository

(1) This phrase refers to a portion of the land, which they conquered, emphasizing their role, as well as the first-fruit portion.[12] (2) This is a month, associated with the Passover lamb and the feast of unleavened bread, marking the start of the religious year.[13] (3) This refers to Stephen being the first of the earliest Christian ministry, highlighting his significance in the early church.[14] (4) The first day of the feast was a day of holy convocation, and the text details the events of the celebration.[15]

From: The Complete Sayings of Jesus

(1) This group of people are those who worked from the beginning, and were upset when they received the same payment as those who worked less.[16] (2) This term is used to describe the speaker, who identifies as the first and the last, and the beginning and the ending, emphasizing the speaker's eternal presence.[17] (3) This refers to the first son, who initially refused to work.[18]

From: A Dictionary of the Bible (Hastings)

(1) This refers to the initial commandment, and the text discusses its arrangement and interpretation.[19] (2) The first man and woman, living in childlike innocence and happiness in the Garden of Eden, were tempted by the subtle serpent to doubt the goodness of their Creator, and aim at the possession of forbidden knowledge by tasting the fruit of the one tree of which they had been expressly charged not to eat.[20]

From: Hymns for Christian Devotion

(1) This refers to the initial statement made, which is a command from a divine entity, emphasizing the importance of love and devotion.[21]

From: A Cyclopedia of Biblical literature

(1) The Prophets and other sacred writers of the Old Testament declare that God is the first and the last, as well as the one who changes not, as stated in the text.[22]

Significance in Global Christian community:
Catholic Church Books

From: Summa Theologica (English translation)

(1) This is an important element, and the Father is the principle without a principle, and the Son is the principle from a principle, as well as the Holy Ghost.[23] (2) The initial human, whose actions are central to the concept of original sin, as described in the text.[24] (3) The text references 'the first' step in the acquisition of virtue, which is likened to the foundation of a building.[25] (4) The first of these is the attaining of science by demonstration, which belongs to physics, if physics be understood to comprise all demonstrative sciences.[26]

From: The city of God

(1) The first was Saul, who reigned, and when he was rejected and laid low in battle, and his offspring rejected so that no kings should arise out of it, David succeeded to the kingdom.[27] (2) This is the time from which the city of God has lived alongside the kingdoms of this world.[28]

The Catholic Church is a global Christian community with over a billion members, rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ. It is led by the Pope and emphasizes the sacraments, particularly the Eucharist. Catholicism is a denomination centered on the teachings thereof. It has a rich theological and cultural heritage.

Significance in Protestantism (Christian movement emphasizing faith and scripture):
Protestantism Books

From: The Existence and Attributes of God

(1) He is the first and the last, that called the 鈥済enerations from the beginning鈥� (Isa. xli. 4), and had an almighty voice to call them out of nothing.[29] (2) This is an act of giving a law and inflicting punishment, which was the first act of sovereignty in the world.[30]

Protestantism (or simply the protestant church) is a major branch of Christianity originating from the Reformation in the 16th century, led by figures like Martin Luther. It emphasizes salvation by faith alone and the Bible as the ultimate authority. Variants of Protestantism include Lutheranism, Calvinism, Anglicanism, Methodism and Presbyterianism, each with unique practices but generally united by these core principles.

Significance in Church of the East (or the East Syriac Church):
Church of the East Books

From: The Book of the Bee

(1) This is a reference to when the angels heard these words, as mentioned in the provided text.[31]

The Church of the East emerged in the 5th century and separated from the Roman Empire's state church by adopting Nestorianism. It emphasizes the distinct human and divine natures of Jesus Christ. It is also called the Assyrian Church, Nestorian Church or the East Syriac Church.

Significance in Eastern Orthodoxy (or the Eastern Orthodox Church):
Eastern Orthodoxy Books

From: The Works of Dionysius the Areopagite

(1) The very highest Order, as being placed in the first rank near the Hidden One, we must consider as directing in spiritual things the second, hiddenly, and that the second, which is composed of the holy Lordships and Powers and Authorities.[32]

Eastern Orthodoxy, or Byzantine Christianity, is one of the three main branches of Christianity. It consists of independently governed churches with strong cultural ties to Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Eastern Orthodox theology focuses on the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Believers strive for theosis, or becoming closer to God, through grace and spiritual practices.  

Gnostic concept of 'First'

Gnosticism Books

Significance in Gnosticism (Mystical or Esoteric Christianity):

From: Pistis Sophia

(1) The first is the First Commandment, the First Mystery, the first Issue, and is the origin of the power and the goal to which the soul is meant to return, and the father.[33] (2) This is the one that existed from the beginning in the Ineffable before it came forth, and its name are we all.[34] (3) The first will be last, and the last will be first, which means the whole race of men will enter the Light-kingdom.[35]

From: The Gnostics and Their Remains

(1) The Court that contains the mysteries of Light, that a soul may receive and be righteous, not obeying the conscience in its doings.[36]