What is an heir in the Bible?

Answer

The literal meaning of heir is “someone who has been appointed to receive an inheritance.” An heir is a person who receives something of value from a father (see Mark 12:7). The Bible sometimes uses the word heir to describe us as recipients of a gift from God: “Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”, (Galatians 4:7). We are “heirs” of God, and Christ is our “co-heir”: “and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”, (Romans 8:17).

The heirs most often mentioned in the Old Testament were sons, principally the firstborn, born only to legitimate wives, not concubines. A firstborn son held the birthright, which means he was heir to a larger portion than what his brothers received (Deuteronomy 21:17;Genesis 21:10). There are a few instances when a younger son became the chief heir (1 Kings 1:13;Genesis 25:23). The patriarch of the family—or God Himself, in the case of Jacob and Esau—had the right to choose the chief heir and could set aside the normal rights of the firstborn. For example, Jacob gave Reuben’s birthright to Joseph’s sons because of Reuben’s sin: “Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.”, (1 Chronicles 5:1), an heir could receive his inheritance as a lump-sum payment during his father’s lifetime instead of waiting until his father’s death (see Luke 15:12). Daughters would only inherit if they had no brothers and if they married within their own tribe, as stated in (Numbers 27:8; Numbers 36:6).

The New Testament presents Jesus Christ as God’s “firstborn” Son, as seen in (Hebrews 1:6, referencing Psalm 89:27). This means that Jesus holds the “birthright” and is the heir of all that the Father possesses, as mentioned in (Hebrews 1:2). Christ has been given all of creation as an inheritance, including believers, who are those given to the Son by the Father, as stated in (Colossians 1:16; John 3:35). The inheritance Christ receives encompasses believers, who are assured that all given by the Father will come to Him, as expressed in (John 6:37).

Believers are considered co-heirs with Christ, as mentioned in (Romans 8:17). This signifies that believers have the privilege of sharing in Christ’s inheritance. As adopted sons of God, Christians are treated as firstborn heirs, part of the general assembly and church of t.The firstborn, who are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, », (Hebrews 12:23). Our inheritance includes salvation «Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?», (Hebrews 1:14), eternal life «to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, », (1 Peter 1:4), and even a measure of the throne of Christ «To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. », (Revelation 3:21).

The heirs of God’s promises receive their inheritance through faith: “It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith” (Romans 4:13;Galatians 3:6). The promise given to Abraham concerning his “offspring” (Genesis 22:17-18) was a promise of Jesus the Messiah «Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. », (Galatians 3:16). So an heir of God is someone who, through faith, receives Christ, who fulfilled the Abrahamic promise of being a blessing to all nations (Galatians 3:29;Revelation 21:24-27).

According to Revelation 21:24-27, the Holy Spirit is given to all believers as “a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession— to the praise of his glory” which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:14).