28# “从死里头生的”表示天堂里的一切良善都来自祂。这从“头生”的含义清楚可知，当论及主时，“头生”是指天堂里的神性良善，因而是指那里的一切良善。“头生”表示这一点，是因为产生，无论总体还是细节，都表示属灵的产生，也就是良善和真理，或爱和信的产生。因此，“父亲”、“母亲”、“儿子”、“女儿”、“女婿”、“儿媳”、“孙子”表示按顺序产生和被产生的良善和真理(《属天的奥秘》，10490节)，因为天堂没有其它出生。正因如此，“头生”不是指头生的或长子，而是指天堂和教会的良善，因为这良善居于首位。由于天堂里的一切良善都从主存在，所以主被称为头生的。祂之所以被称为从死里头生的，是因为当从死里复活时，祂通过与自成孕时就在祂里面的神性合一而将祂的人身变成神性良善。
这就是为何祂被称为“从死里头生的”，并在诗篇论到祂自己说：
我要立祂为长子，高于世上的列王。(诗篇89:27)
从下文会看到祂“高于世上的列王”是什么意思。主离开世界时将祂的人身变成神性良善(参看《属天的奥秘》3194, 3210, 6864, 7499, 8724, 9199, 10076节)；因此，祂从父出来，又回到父那里(3194, 3210节)；合一之后，神性真理，也就是保惠师，就是真理的灵，从祂发出(3704, 3712, 3969, 4577,5704, 7499, 8127, 8241, 9199, 9398, 9407节)。不过，这个奥秘可参看《新耶路撒冷及其属天教义》，那里(293–295节)有更充分的解释，也可参看那里(303–305节)从《属天的奥秘》中引用的章节。神性人身方面的主被称为“头生的”，因为一切良善都是从祂发出的，故在以色列教会，一切头生的都归耶和华为圣；利未人被接受取代以色列一切头生的；因为利未人代表处于仁之良善的教会之人。也正因如此，双份产业被分配给头生的，即长子。这一切都是因为头生的表示来自主的良善，在至高意义上表示一切良善所来自的神性人身方面的主自己。事实上，在以色列教会被吩咐的一切都代表属灵和属天的神性事物。
在以色列教会，一切头生的都归耶和华为圣，这一点从以下摩西五经中的经文明显看出来：
凡头生的，就是以色列人中凡打开子宫的，无论是人是牲畜，都要分别为圣归我；都是我的。(出埃及记13:2)
出埃及记：
你要将一切打开子宫的，并将你所拥有的牲畜中一切打开子宫的幼畜(即头生的)，都归给耶和华；公的都要属耶和华。(出埃及记13:12)
又：
你要献上你出产的初熟果子和酒的初熟果子，不可迟延。你要将头生的儿子归给我。对你的牛，你的羊，也要这样；七天它可以和它的母亲在一起，第八天你要把它归给我。你们要归我作圣洁的人。(出埃及记22:29–31)
他们之所以还要交出牲畜中头生的，是因为这些也具有代表性；它们因代表而用于燔祭和祭牲。至于各种牲畜在这些服事中代表什么，可参看《属天的奥秘》(1823,3519, 9280, 10042节)。利未人被接受取代以色列一切头生的(对此，参看民数记3:12, 13, 41, 45; 8:15-20)，是因为如前所述，“利未人”代表、因而表示仁之良善，“利未”在至高意义上表示这良善方面的主(参看《属天的奥秘》，3875, 3877, 4497, 4502, 4503, 10017节)。双份产业被分给头生的，即长子(申命记21:17)，是因为“双份产业”表示爱之良善(《属天的奥秘》，720, 1686, 5194, 8423节)。
28. The first-born from the dead. That this signifies from whom is all good in heaven, is evident from the signification of first-born, when said of the Lord, as denoting the Divine good in heaven, thus all good there. The reason why this is signified by first-born, is, because by generations, in general and in particular, are signified spiritual generations, which are those of good and truth, or of love and faith. Therefore, by father, mother, sons, daughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, and sons' sons, are signified the goods and truths which generate, and which are generated, in their order (Arcana Coelestia 10490). For in heaven there are no other nativities; and, this being the case, by first-born is not meant first-born, but the good of heaven and the church, because this is in the chief place. Now, because all good in heaven exists from the Lord, therefore He is called the First-born.
[2] The reason why He is called the first-born from the dead, is because, when He rose from the dead, He made His Human Divine Good by union with the Divine which was in Him from conception. This is why He is called the first-born from the dead; and why He says of Himself in David,
"I will make him the first-born, higher than the kings of the earth" (Arcana Coelestia 3194, 3210, 6864, 7499, 8724, 9199, 10076, thus that He came forth from the Father and returned to the Father, n. 3194, 3210; and that after the union, the Divine truth, which is the Comforter, the Spirit of truth, goes forth from Him, n. 3704, 3712, 3969, 4577, 5704, 7499, 8127, 8241, 9199, 9398, 9407. But this mystery may be seen more fully explained in the small work, The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 293-295; and in the passages from Arcana Coelestia there cited, n. 303-305.)
Since the Lord as to His Divine Human is called the first-born, because all good goes forth from Him, therefore all the first-born in the Israelitish church were holy to Jehovah; and therefore also the Levites were taken in the place of all the first-born in Israel. For by the sons of Levi were represented those of the church who are in the good of charity. On this account, also, a double portion of the inheritance fell to the first-born. All this, because the first-born signified good from the Lord, and, in the highest sense, the Lord Himself as to the Divine Human, from which all good comes; for all the things commanded in the Israelitish church were representative of spiritual and celestial Divine things.
[3] That all the first-born in the Israelitish church were holy to Jehovah is evident from Moses, in the following passages:
"Sanctify unto me all the first-born, whatsoever openeth the womb among the sons of Israel, in man and in beast; it is mine" (720, 1686, 5194, 8423).
28. The Firstborn from the dead, signifies from whom is all good in heaven. This is evident from the signification of the "firstborn," as being, in reference to the Lord, Divine good in heaven, thus all good there. The "firstborn" signifies this, because by generations, in general and in particular, spiritual generations are signified, which are the generations of good and truth or of love and faith; from this it is, that by "father," "mother," "sons," "daughters," "sons-in-law," "daughters-in-law," and "son's sons," are signified goods and truths which generate and are generated in their order (Arcana Coelestia 10490), for in heaven there are no other nativities. This being so, by "firstborn" is not meant the firstborn, but the good of heaven and of the church, because this is in the first place. And since it is the Lord from whom all good in heaven is, He is called the "Firstborn." He is called "the Firstborn from the dead," because, when He arose from the dead, He made His Human to be Divine good by union with the Divine that was in Him from conception.
[2] This is why He is called "the Firstborn from the dead," and says of Himself in David:
I will make Him the Firstborn, high above the kings of the earth (Arcana Coelestia 3194, 3210, 6864, 7499, 8724, 9199, 10076; thus that He came forth from the Father and returned to the Father, n. 3194, 3210; and that after the union, the Divine truth, which is the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, proceeds from Him, n. 3704, 3712, 3969, 4577, 5704, 7499, 8127, 8241, 9199, 9398, 9407. But this arcanum may be seen more fully explained in the small work on The Doctrine of the New Jerusalem 293-295; and in the passages there cited from the Arcana Coelestia 303-305.)
As the Lord in respect to the Divine Human is called "the Firstborn," for the reason that all good proceeds from Him, so all the firstborn in the Israelitish church were holy to Jehovah; so also the Levites were received in place of all the firstborn in Israel; for by the sons of Levi were represented those of the church who are in the good of charity: therefore also a double portion of inheritance was allotted to the firstborn; all this for the reason that the firstborn signified the good that is from the Lord, and in the highest sense, the Lord Himself in respect to the Divine Human from which is all good. For all things that were commanded in the Israelitish church were representative of Divine things, spiritual and celestial.
[3] That all the firstborn in the Israelitish church were holy to Jehovah appears from Moses, in the following passages:
Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and of beast: it is Mine (Arcana Coelestia 720, 1686, 5194, 8423)
28. "Ipse Primogenitus ex mortuis." - Quod significet ex quo omne bonum ibi, constat ex significatione "primogeniti", cum de Domino, quod sit Divinum Bonum in caelo, ita omne bonum ibi; quod "primogenitus" id significet, est quia per "generationes" In genere et in specie significantur generationes spirituales, quae sunt boni et veri, seu amoris et fidei; inde est quod per "patrem", matrem", "filios", "filias", "generos", "nurus", "filios filiorum", significantur bona et vera, quae generant, et quae generantur in suo ordine (n. AC 10490); in caelo enim non sunt aliae nativitates; et quia ita est, per "primogenitum" non intelligitur primogenitus, sed bonum caeli et ecclesiae, quia hoc primo loco est: nunc quia Dominus est ex quo omne bonum ibi, ideo Ille vocatur "Primogenitus." Quod vocetur "Primogenitus ex mortuis", est quia cum surrexit ex mortuis, Humanum suum per unionem cum Divino, quod in Se ex conceptione erat, fecit Divinum Bonum;
[2] inde est quod dicatur "Primogenitus ex mortuis", et de Ipso apud Davidem,
"Ego Primogenitum dabo Illum, altum regibus terrae" (Psalms 89:29 [Biblia Anglica, 27]);
quid intelligitur per "altum regibus terrae", videatur in subsequente articulo. (Quod Dominus, cum e mundo abivit, Humanum suum fecerit Divinum Bonum, videatur n. 3194, 3210, 6864, 7499, 8724, 9199, 10076; ita quod exiverit ex Patre et redierit ad Patrem, n. 3194, 3210; et quod post unitionem, Divinum Verum, quod est Paracletus Spiritus veritatis, procedat ab Ipso, n. 3704, 3712, 3969, 4577, 5704, 7499, 8127, 8241, 9199, 9398, 9407; sed hoc arcanum videatur plenius explicatum in opusculo De Doctrina Novae Hierosolymae, n. 293-295; et in locis ex Arcanis Caelestibus ibi citatis, n. 303-305.) Quoniam Dominus quoad Divinum Humanum vocatus est "Primogenitus", ex causa quia omne bonum procedit ab Ipso, ideo omnia primogenita in Ecclesia Israelitica sancta fuerunt Jehovae, et ideo Levitae loco omnium primogenitorum in Israele recepti sunt, per filios enim Levi representati fuerunt illi ab ecclesia qui in bono charitatis sunt; et ideo cesserunt primogenito binae partes ex hereditate; et haec omnia ob causam, quia "primogenitum" significabat bonum quod a Domino, et in supremo sensu Ipsum Dominum quoad Divinum Humanum, ex quo omne bonum; omnia enim quae in Ecclesia Israelitica mandata fuerunt, erant repraesentativa Divinorum spiritualium et caelestium.
[3] Quod omnia primogenita in Ecclesia Israelitica sancta fuerint Jehovae, constat apud Moschen in his sequentibus locis: -
"Sanctifica Mihi omne primogenitum, aperturam omnis uteri, inter filios Israelis; in homine et in bestia mea sunto" (Exodus 13:2);
"Transire facies omnem aperturam uteri Jehovae; et omnis apertura (fetus) bestiae, quot erunt tibi masculi, Jehovae" (Exodus 13:12);
"Primitias frugum tuarum, et primitias vini tui non differes: primogenitum filiorum tuorum dabis Mihi: sic facies bovi tuo, et pecori tuo: septem diebus erit cum matre sua, octavo die dabis illud Mihi; et viri sanctitatis eritis Mihi" (Exodus 22:28-30 [B.A. 29-31]);
quod etiam darent primogenita bestiae, erat quia illae etiam repraesentabant; et quia repraesentabant, etiam in holocaustis et sacrificiis adhibebantur. (Quid variae bestiae ibi repraesentabant, videatur n. 1823, 3519, 9280, 10042.
Quod Levitae loco omnium primogenitorum in Israele accepti sint, de qua re videatur Numeri 3:12, 13, 41, 45; 8:15-19,
erat causa, ut supra dictum est, quia "filii Levi" repraesentabant et inde significabant bonum charitatis, et "Levi" in supremo sensu Dominum quoad id bonum, videatur n. 3875, 3877, 4497, 4502, 4503, 10017.
Quod primogenito cesserint binae partes ex hereditate, Deuteronomius 21:17,
erat quia "binae partes" significabant bonum amoris, n. 720, 1686, 5194, 8423.)