---
title: Revelation 1:5
url: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/revelation-1-5/
markdown: https://jw-apologetics.app/verses/revelation-1-5.md
type: verse
perspective: Protestant (historic Nicene) response to Jehovah's Witness teaching
reference: Revelation 1:5
testament: NT
section: Prophecy
index: https://jw-apologetics.app/llms.txt
---

# Revelation 1:5

## Text (Berean Standard Bible)

> and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,

## NWT Wording of the Key Phrase

- NWT (2013 revision): "and from Jesus Christ, 'the Faithful Witness,' 'the firstborn from the dead,' and 'the Ruler of the kings of the earth.' To him who loves us and who set us free from our sins by means of his own blood"

## JW Usage

Watchtower commentary frames Revelation 1:5 as a list of Jesus's delegated titles: faithful witness, firstborn from the dead, ruler of earth's kings. Each is taken as a position Jesus holds by appointment from the Father. The verse is read as honouring Jesus while preserving his subordinate status.

## Protestant Usage

The verse is a doxology to Jesus, not a CV. "The firstborn from the dead" (prōtotokos ek tōn nekrōn) denotes preeminence and rank, not chronological origin — Israel was God's "firstborn" (Exodus 4:22) though not the first nation, and David was "firstborn" (Psalm 89:27) though the youngest son. "Who loves us and set us free from our sins by means of his own blood" describes the Redeemer's work — the work of God himself, since only God forgives sin (Isaiah 43:25). And v6 — "he made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father" — applies to "us," every believer Christ has freed from sin. The priesthood of all believers begins here.

## Arguments Using This Verse

- [Jesus as Alpha and Omega](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/alpha-omega.md) — Revelation 22:12–16 [Deity of Christ]
- [A Royal Priesthood — Every Believer is a Priest](https://jw-apologetics.app/arguments/universal-priesthood-1peter29.md) — 1 Peter 2:9 / Revelation 1:6 / 5:10 — The end of mediating classes [Authority]