Colossians 1:18 ...the firstborn from the dead...

[WhiteWings]

Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

But:
John 12:1 Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

It seems Lazarus rose from the dead before Jesus.
Jesus still lives and Lazarus just died again. So there clearly is a difference.
But can it be proven in a simple way?

I thought about the above when I was searching for some Lazarus an Rich man stuff.
The story is in past tense and Rich man and Lazarus were resurrected. Abraham was also there.
That means at least 3 people went before First Fruit Jesus. That would totally prove it was/is a parable.

So....

[rosered]

good one WW ,
but what is  dead ?
and what is living /viable ?
in the sense of this parable ?


Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. 

here is what they also pondered and considered  what rising from the dead means  as we are now lol

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.Mar 9:10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

[WhiteWings]

but what is  dead ?
and what is living /viable ?
in the sense of this parable ?

I asume you are asking if it means spiritually dead. If so that would also debunk the ET vision on that parable because they believe Rich Man was tortured with real flames.

Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. 

here is what they also pondered and considered  what rising from the dead means  as we are now lol

Mmm, that would mean double rising from the dead.
They died. Were resurrected to either paradise or hell. But to appear agin on earth they need to be resurrected again.
Or it simply means they could show up on earth in their current state. Jesus was also visible after resurrection.

But that still leaves me with the question that Lazarus, the real man in this world not the one from parable, rose from the dead before Jesus. I think it's extremely unlikely this is about spiritual dead/resurrection because the resurrection of the body of Jesus was the highlight and grand finale of Jesus ministry.
Well... you understand what I mean....

[rosered]

but what is  dead ?
and what is living /viable ?
in the sense of this parable ?

I asume you are asking if it means spiritually dead. If so that would also debunk the ET vision on that parable because they believe Rich Man was tortured with real flames.

Luk 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. 

here is what they also pondered and considered  what rising from the dead means  as we are now lol

Mmm, that would mean double rising from the dead.
They died. Were resurrected to either paradise or hell. But to appear agin on earth they need to be resurrected again.
Or it simply means they could show up on earth in their current state. Jesus was also visible after resurrection.

But that still leaves me with the question that Lazarus, the real man in this world not the one from parable, rose from the dead before Jesus. I think it's extremely unlikely this is about spiritual dead/resurrection because the resurrection of the body of Jesus was the highlight and grand finale of Jesus ministry.
Well... you understand what I mean....

  I do understand  what you mean ...  why  was Lazurus    risen before  Jesus , I  thought of the same thing till I remebered Jesus  telling them HE IS THE RESSURECTION  and the Life , so  to me  he/Jesus   had the power all along , but to make the open show and point to all the world , the Cross and death also came according to  plan ..

  I also thought of   the  men on the road with Jesus after  he had risen
  they did not recognize him  ,  till Jesus opened up their minds /understanding  to the scriptures
  this burning in their hearts ?  a spiritual  type  or literal type heartburn ?

Luk 24:32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures? 

and here is where it gets good ,  he is not only spirit  , but a Body / glorified  as well ......

it seems  that their JOY is what got in the way of their believing Him ?

And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 


Luk 24:39   Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 


Luk 24:40   And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them [his] hands and [his] feet. 


Luk 24:41   And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? 


NASB 41While they still could not believe it because of their joy and amazement, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?"

  THIS JOY  is in every version  that seems to get in the way of their  faith/ believing ?
  thats what seems strange to me bro