“And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,”
My Notes
What Does Revelation 1:5 Mean?
John introduces Jesus with three titles packed into a single verse: the faithful witness, the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Each title addresses a different dimension of Christ's authority.
The faithful witness — Jesus testifies truthfully about God. His life, death, and resurrection are the definitive testimony about who God is and what God does. He is reliable. What he said is true.
The first begotten of the dead — Jesus was not the first person raised from death, but he is the first to be raised permanently. He pioneered resurrection. He is the prototype for what every believer will experience.
The prince of the kings of the earth — every earthly ruler, regardless of their power, is under Jesus' authority. He is the ruler of rulers, the king above kings. And he exercises this authority through love: "unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood."
Reflection Questions
- 1.Which of the three titles — faithful witness, first begotten, prince of kings — do you need most today?
- 2.What does 'faithful witness' mean in a world of unreliable information?
- 3.How does Jesus being 'first begotten of the dead' change your relationship with mortality?
- 4.What earthly power or authority do you need to remember is under Jesus' authority?
Devotional
The faithful witness. In a world full of unreliable voices — shifting opinions, broken promises, half-truths — Jesus is the witness you can trust completely. What he said about God is true. What he said about you is true. What he said about the future is true.
The first begotten of the dead. He went through death and came out the other side — permanently. Not resuscitated temporarily. Raised forever. And because he went first, the path is open for everyone who follows.
The prince of the kings of the earth. Whatever ruler, system, or power seems to be in charge — Jesus outranks them all. Not through political maneuvering but through sacrificial love. He loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.
Three titles. Each one answers a different fear. Afraid of being deceived? He is the faithful witness. Afraid of death? He is the first begotten of the dead. Afraid of earthly powers? He is the prince of the kings of the earth.
Whatever you are afraid of, one of these titles addresses it.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
And from Jesus Christ,.... Who, though the second Person in the Trinity, is mentioned last, because many things were to…
And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness - See the notes on Rev 1:2. He is faithful in the sense that he is…
The faithful witness - The true teacher, whose testimony is infallible, and whose sayings must all come to pass.
The…
We have here an apostolic benediction on those who should give a due regard to this divine revelation; and this…
who is These words are probably inserted in the A. V. and R. V. by way of marking the fact that "the faithful Witness"…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture