Free Bible Commentary
“Colossians 1:15-17”
Categories: Colossians10-16-18 – Colossians 1:15-17
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
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Paul is making the case for the preeminence and absolute authority and sufficiency of Christ Jesus. The brethren had some misconceptions about the nature of Jesus because of the misinformation spread by some false teachers. Paul teaches them who Christ is in regards to deity (verse 15), as concerns the created Universe (verses 15-17), and in relation to the church (verses 18-23) in this chapter.
Jesus is the “image of the invisible God” (verse 15). To say that Jesus is the “image” or the “eikon” of God is to say that He is the Father’s “representation and manifestation” (Vine’s Dictionary). The Apostle John wrote concerning Jesus: “No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him” (John 1:18).
Jesus bore the image of His Father in heaven because He coexists with Him from eternity and He shares the same eternal nature and essence of the Father and the Holy Spirit. The Hebrew writer wrote of Jesus that “He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus doesn’t merely bear the “image” of the Father in appearance, but is the “exact representation of His nature.”
To say that Jesus is “the firstborn of all creation” is not to say that Jesus was a created being. Paul is relating the concept of rank and privilege, and not birth and origination by this statement. He is not saying that Christ is a part of creation, because “by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth” (verse 16). Jesus as the Word existed “before all things” (verse 17) therefore His is far superior to anything in the created world, and owns the rank far above any created person or thing.
In Jesus “all things hold together” (verse 17). As we read in Hebrews 1:3, Jesus “upholds all things by the word of His power.” The Word not only created the Universe, but He also maintains its order and cohesiveness by the Almighty power that He exerts in keeping things intact and functioning properly. Do you feel as if your life is flying out of control as you read this? Maybe it is because you have not made or maintained Jesus as the center of your world. It is impossible to “hold it all together” without Jesus as the power source for mental and spiritual cohesion in your life.
Please read Colossians 1:18-20 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
- Louie Taylor
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