352、“羊群中头生的”表示唯独属于主的圣物。这从代表性教会中“头生的”清楚可知；在教会，一切事物都是神圣的，因为它们与主有关，唯独主是“头生的”。爱和由此而来的信就是“头生的”。一切爱都属于主，无一丝属于人，这就是为何唯独主是“头生的”。在古代教会，这一事实由归耶和华为圣的头生的人或头生的牲畜来代表（出埃及记13:2，12，15）；也由利未支派来代表，利未在内义上表示爱，尽管他比流便和西缅出生晚，流便和西缅在内义上表示信，所以利未取代所有长子（即头生的）被悦纳，成为祭司（民数记3:40-46；8:14-20）。主就其人身本质而言，是一切的长子（即头生的），对此，诗篇上如此说：
祂要称呼我说，你是我的父，是我的神，是拯救我的磐石。我也要立祂为我的长子，高于世上的列王。（诗篇89:26-27）
启示录：
耶稣基督，从死人中首先复活的，地上诸王的元首。（启示录1:5）
请注意，敬拜的长子或头生的表示主，教会的长子或头生的表示信。
New Century Edition
Cooper(2008,2013)
[NCE]352. The symbolism of the firstborn of the flock as holiness, which is exclusively the Lord's, can be seen from the place of firstborns in the representative church. They were all holy because they prefigured the Lord, who is the only firstborn.
Love and love-based faith is the firstborn. All love is the Lord's and no particle of love is ours, which is why the Lord is the only firstborn. In the early churches, this fact was represented by the consecration of firstborns and of firstborn animals to Jehovah (Exodus 13:2, 12, 15). It was also represented by the fact that the tribe of Levi was taken in place of all the firstborn and became the priestly order (Numbers 3:40-46; 8:14-20), even though Levi, who on an inner level symbolizes love, was born after Reuben and Simeon, who on an inner level symbolize faith.
The following words in David say that the Lord in respect to his human nature was the firstborn of all:
The name he will give me is: "You are my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation." Indeed, I will make him the firstborn, high above the monarchs of the earth. (Psalms 89:26-27)
And in John:
Jesus Christ, the firstborn of the dead and chief of the earth's monarchs. (Revelation 1:5)
Take note that the firstborn animals used in worship symbolize the Lord while the firstborn things of the church symbolize faith.{*1}
Footnotes:
{*1} For "the firstborn things of the church," see 338. [LHC]
Potts(1905-1910) 352
352. That the "firstlings of the flock" signify that which is of the Lord alone, is evident from the firstlings or firstborn in the representative church, which were all holy, because they had relation to the Lord, who alone is the "firstborn." Love and the faith thence derived are the "firstborn." All love is of the Lord, and not one whit of it is of man, therefore the Lord alone is the "firstborn." This was represented in the ancient churches by the firstborn of man and of beast being sacred to Jehovah (Exod. 13:2, 12, 15); and by the tribe of Levi, which in the internal sense signifies love-though Levi was born after Reuben and Simeon who in the internal sense signify faith-being accepted instead of all the firstborn, and constituting the priesthood (Num. 3:40-45; 8:14-20). Of the Lord as the firstborn of all, with respect to His human essence, it is thus written in David:
He shall call Me, My Father, My God, and the rock of My salvation. I will also make Him My firstborn, high above the kings of the earth (Ps. 89:26-27).And in John:
Jesus Christ the firstborn of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth (Rev. 1:5). Observe that the firstborn of worship signify the Lord, and the firstborn of the church, faith.
Elliott(1983-1999) 352
352. 'The firstborn of the flock' means the holy which is the Lord's alone. This becomes clear from the firstborn in the representative Church, where everything was holy because it had regard to the Lord, who alone is 'the Firstborn'. Love and faith deriving from it are the firstborn. All love is the Lord's and not a trace of it man's, and this is why the Lord alone is 'the Firstborn'. This was represented in the Churches of the ancient era by the requirement to consecrate the firstborn of man and of beast to Jehovah, Exod 13:2,12, 15. It was also represented by the tribe of Levi, which in the internal sense means love - though Levi was born later than Reuben and Simeon, who in the internal sense mean faith - being taken instead of all the firstborn and becoming the priesthood, Num 3:40-46; 8:14-20. That the Lord as regards His Human Essence is the Firstborn of all is clear from the following statement in David,
He will cry to Me, You are My Father, My God, and the Rock of My Salvation; I will also make Him as the Firstborn, supreme over the kings of the earth. Ps 89:26, 27.
And in John,
Jesus Christ, the Firstborn from the dead, and Prince of the kings of the earth. Rev 1:5.
Please note that the firstborn of worship mean the Lord, while the firstborn of the Church mean faith.
Latin(1748-1756) 352
352. Quod per 'primogenita gregis' significetur [sanctum quod est solius Domini, constare potest a primogenitis in Ecclesia repraesentativa, quae omnia sancta fuerunt quia spectabant Dominum, Qui solus Primogenitus. Amor et inde fides est primogenitus; omni amor est Domini, et ne hilum amoris est hominis, quare Dominus solus Primogenitus; hoc repraesentatum est in Ecclesiis antiquis per 'primogenita hominis et bestiae, quod essent sancta Jehovae, Exod. xiii 2, 12, 15. Et quod tribus Levi, qui in sensu interno significat amorem, post Reuben et Simeonem, qui in sensu interno significat fidem, natus, acceptata loco omnium primogenitorum, et facta sacerdotium, Num. iii 40-46; viii 14-20. De Domino quod Primogenitus omnium quoad Humanam Ipsius Essentiam, ita apud Davidem, Ille vocabit Me, Pater Meus Tu, Deus Meus, et petra saluti Meae, etiam Ego Primogenitum dabo Illum, altum regibus terrae, Ps. lxxxix 27, 28 [A.V. 26, 27]:et apud Johannem, Jesus Christus, Primogenitus ex mortuis, et Princeps regum terrae, Apoc. i, 5. Observes quod primogenita cultus significent Dominum; primogenita autem Ecclesiae significent fidem.