Who was the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29)?

In Romans 8, the apostle Paul writes about how the Holy Spirit leads and transforms Christians. Within that theme, he emphasizes that God is at work in believers’ lives both in times of blessing and hardship. Through it all, God is shaping Christians to be more like Jesus Christ. Paul writes, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29, KJV). The “firstborn among many brethren” is Jesus, who is the model for Christians to follow.

The Father’s desire is for Christians to become more like Jesus. His plan is that every believer would experience transformation into Christlikeness. First, Paul writes that God wants Christians “to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). This “image” does not refer to physical appearance but to spiritual likeness—God wants His children to grow in Christlike faith, character, and values. In this way, Jesus is the example the Father is shaping believers to resemble.

The phrase firstborn among many brethren in the NKJV reinforces this idea. The term firstborn in this context doesn’t refer to biological birth or birth order; instead, it refers to Jesus’ unique status as first in kind and rank in relation to believers. This means Jesus is the unique, preeminent Son of God who serves as the pattern for all who follow Him.

The Bible often uses the term firstborn to indicate preeminence or highest rank. For instance, Psalm 89:27 says, “And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.” This psalm refers to the promises God made to David. Although David was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons, God appointed him as His “firstborn.” That is, God gave David a preeminent place.

Other passages where the term firstborn describes Jesus include Colossians 1:15 (“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation”) and Colossians 1:18, where Jesus is “the firstborn from among the dead.” In the latter instance, firstborn refers to both sequence and status. Jesus was the first to rise from the dead with a glorified body, never to die again (1 Corinthians 15:20). And He is the Lord of all.

In Romans 8:29, God pictures the community of faith as a family. Believers are brothers and sisters, having been adopted into God’s family. Jesus, as the “firstborn” among them, is the preeminent Leader and highest Dignitary of all of God’s sons. He bears the responsibility for our salvation and ultimate glorification.