First Fruit in the Scripture

I. The Original Word and Etymology

📖 Old Testament Hebrew: Reshith (רֵאשִׁית)

• Meaning: “the beginning,” “chief part,” “first in order, rank, or time.”

• Used for:

  • The first part of the harvest offered to God.

  • The firstborn or first portion consecrated to the Lord.

🕎 Key Usage:

Exodus 23:19 (KJV)
“The first of the firstfruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God.”

💡 Insight:
The term reshith comes from the root rosh (head, chief), implying preeminence.
Thus, the firstfruits symbolize priority, holiness, and dedication — the “chief part” belonging to God.

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📖 New Testament Greek: Aparchē (ἀπαρχή)

• Meaning: “first portion,” “the first part of the crop,” or “first yield offered to God.”

• Root: From apo (from) + archē (beginning).

• It carries the sense of something offered as a pledge or guarantee of the full harvest to come.

🕊️ Key Usage:

Romans 11:16 (KJV)
“For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.”

💡 Insight:
In Pauline theology, “firstfruit” expresses the principle of sanctification — the portion offered to God makes the rest holy.

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II. The Theological Concept of Firstfruits

1. A Principle of Dedication

The firstfruits were always set apart for God as an act of worship and gratitude.

Proverbs 3:9 (KJV)
“Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.”

💡 Principle:
God deserves first place in all things — time, resources, and devotion.
The act of offering firstfruits acknowledges Him as the Source and Owner of all blessings.

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2. A Prophetic Symbol of Resurrection

Leviticus 23:10–11 (KJV)
“...Then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it.”

💡 Exegesis:
The Hebrew ritual of presenting the first sheaf (omer) of grain foreshadowed Christ’s resurrection, which occurred on the “morrow after the Sabbath” — exactly on the Feast of Firstfruits.

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III. Christ as the Firstfruits

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 (KJV)
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
… But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”

🔍 Exegetical Analysis:

• Christ as the firstfruit means He is the first to rise immortal, never to die again.

• His resurrection is a pledge and guarantee of the believer’s resurrection — just as the first portion of the crop guaranteed the rest of the harvest.

• The offering of the sheaf symbolized acceptance; Christ’s presentation to the Father signified that we are accepted in Him.

Ephesians 1:6 (KJV)
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

💡 Christological Insight:
The firstfruits belong wholly to God, and by offering Christ — the first and best — the Father consecrated all who are “in Christ.”
He is both the prototype and guarantor of the new creation.

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IV. Believers as Firstfruits of the New Creation

James 1:18 (KJV)
“Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

🔍 Exegesis:

• Believers are the first portion of God’s new creation — those reborn through the Word and Spirit.

• This denotes separation unto God, spiritual maturity, and a promise of greater redemption yet to come.

Romans 8:23 (KJV)
“And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

💡 Meaning:
The Holy Spirit is the “firstfruit” within us — the down payment and assurance of our full resurrection and glorification.
As Christ is the firstfruits of resurrection, the Spirit is the firstfruits of transformation within.

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V. Spiritual and Practical Applications

Aspect	Meaning	Application
Priority	God must receive the first and best	Give Him the first place in time, talent, and treasure
Sanctification	The firstfruits make the rest holy	When we dedicate the first, all is blessed
Resurrection Hope	Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours	Live in confidence of eternal life
Spiritual Renewal	The Spirit as firstfruits renews us daily	Walk in the newness of life, bearing spiritual fruit
Harvest Mission	The firstfruits point to the full harvest	Win souls, anticipating the great harvest of the Kingdom

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VI. Summary of Exegetical Insights

Word	Meaning	Theological Truth
Reshith (רֵאשִׁית)	Beginning, chief, first portion	God owns the first and best
Aparchē (ἀπαρχή)	First portion offered to God	A pledge of the full harvest
Christ the Firstfruits	First to rise from the dead	Guarantees resurrection of all believers
Believers as Firstfruits	Consecrated portion of God’s new creation	Called to holiness and mission
Spirit as Firstfruits	Down payment of redemption	Assurance of glorification and eternal life

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✝️ Conclusion

The doctrine of Firstfruits unfolds a profound revelation:

• In Christ, God received His first and best offering.

• Through the Spirit, believers become the living firstfruits of His new creation.

• And at the harvest, all who belong to Christ will rise — the full fruit of redemption brought home to glory.

Romans 8:29 (KJV)
“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.”