Abstract

In the Gospel of Luke 2, 7 the Son of Mary born in Bethlehem was called 'Firstborn' which is usually understood in the literal sense, while there are reasons to 'suspect' a clear intention of the Author to attribute to this term, historically founded and justified, a deeper meaning, namely the theological sense. The author of the article set out to demonstrate the theological content of the 'firstborn' in Lk 2, 7 by analyzing the philological and historical Old Testament material as well as the recurrences of the term in the New Testament. The analysis carried out shows that Luke, as a historian and theologian, attributes to the 'firstborn' the role of Christological title loaded with theological content. Then the absolute use of the term 'firstborn' in Lk 2, 7 (without explanatory elements such as, for example, in Rom 8, 29; Col 1, 15, etc.) invites us to treat it as the title of Christ par excellence. He alone is the Firstborn. This title belongs to him for two reasons: as the Firstborn and Only Son of the heavenly Father and as the Firstborn and Only Son of Mary.