furst ('echadh, ri'shon; proton, to proton, protos):
Of these words, which are those most frequently used for "first," ri'shon is from rosh, "the head, and is used for the highest, chief, etc.; also of time, the beginning, e.g.Ge 8:13, in the first month"; inIsa 44:6;48:12, it is used of Yahweh as Eternal and solely Supreme--the First and the Last (compareIsa 41:4). Special usages are in connection with "firstborn," "first- fruit," etc.; proton is used of that which is first in order; but also of that which is first or chief in importance, etc. (Mt 6:33;Jas 3:17). In1Ti 1:15, Paul says Jesus came "to save sinners; of whom I am chief," literally, "first"; the same word is used by Jesus of the "first" of the commandments (Mr 12:29); where we read in1Co 15:3, "I delivered unto you first of all," it is en protois ("in the foremost place"); "The first and the last" is applied to Christ as Eternal and Supreme (Re 1:17;2:8;22:13); protos is "the first day" (Mt 26:17;Mr 16:9); inMt 28:1;Mr 16:2;Lu 24:1;Joh 20:1,19;Ac 20:7, it is mia ("one").
W. L. Walker