Colossians 1:15-17 - JESUS the GOD-MAN.
Colossians 1:15-17 (NKJV) He is the image of
the invisible God, the firstborn over all
creation. For by Him all things were created that are
in heaven and that are on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or dominions or
principalities or powers. All things were created through
Him and for Him. And He is before all things,
and in Him all things consist.
Colossians 1:15-17 (NIV) He is the image of
the invisible God, the firstborn over all
creation. 16 For by him all things were created:
things in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or
authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all
things hold together.
Colossians 1:15-17 (NLT) Christ is the
visible image of the invisible God. He existed
before anything was created and is supreme over all
creation, for through him God created everything in
the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the
things we can see and the things we cant see -
such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and
authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created
through him and for him. He existed before anything
else, and he holds all creation together.
Colossians 1:15-17 (MSG) We look at this Son
and see the God who cannot be seen. We look at
this Son and see God's original purpose in
everything created. For everything, absolutely
everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank
after rank after rank of angels - everything got
started in him and finds its purpose in him. He was
there before any of it came into existence and
holds it all together right up to this moment.
WORD STUDY
IMAGE
Christ is called the "image of God" here and
in 2Co 4:4. In Heb. 1:3 he is described as the
"radiance of God's glory and the exact representation
of his being." This figure of the image
suggests two truths: (1) God is invisible ("no one
has ever seen God," Jn. 1:18); (2) Christ, who
is the eternal Son of God and who became the
God-man, reflects and reveals him (see also Jn. 1:18;
14:9). [Life Application SB]
The Greek word for "image" means "copy" or
"likeness." Jesus Christ is the perfect image - the
exact likeness - of God and is in the very form of
God (Phil. 2:6; John 1:14; 14:9) and has been so
from all eternity. By describing Jesus in this
manner, Paul emphasizes that He is both the
representation and manifestation of God. Thus, He is fully
God in every way (2:9; John 8:58; 10:30-33; Heb.
1:8). [MacArthur Daily Bible 2003]
FIRSTBORN
"Firstborn over all creation" (Col. 1:15)
does not mean Jesus was a created being and not
eternal God, nor does "firstborn from the dead" (v.
18) mean He was the first one raised from the
dead. Firstborn is a term of honor and means "the
highest, of first rank and importance." Jesus was
prior to all creation (John 1:1-3) and is the
highest in creation. He is the highest of all who
were raised from the dead (Rev. 1:17-18).
[Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren
Wiersbe]
"The firstborn over all creation." The
Greek word for "firstborn" can refer to one who
was born first chronologically, but most often
refers to preeminence in position or rank (Heb.
1:6; Rom. 8:29). In both Greek and Jewish
culture, the firstborn was the ranking son who had
received the right of inheritance from his father,
whether he was born first or not. It is used of
Israel who, not being the first nation, was however
the preeminent nation (Ex. 4:22; Jer. 31:9).
Firstborn in this context clearly means highest in
rank, not first created (Ps. 89:27; Rev. 1:5) for
several reasons:
1. Christ cannot be both "first begotten"
and "only begotten" (John 1:14, 18; 3:16, 18; 1
John 4.9);
2. when the "firstborn" is one of a
class, the class is in the plural form (v. 18; Rom.
8:29), but "creation," the class here, is in a
singular form;
3. if Paul was teaching that Christ was a
created being, he was agreeing with the heresy he
was writing to refute; and
4. it is impossible for Christ to be both
created and the Creator of everything (v. 16).
Thus Jesus is the firstborn in the sense
that He has the preeminence (v. 18) and possesses
the right of inheritance "over all creation"
(Heb. 1:2; Rev. 5:1-7, 13). He existed before the
creation and is exalted in rank above it. [MacArthur
Daily Bible 2003]
INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW
Col 1:15-20 Perhaps an early Christian hymn
(see note on 3:16) on the supremacy of
Christ--used here by Paul to counteract the false
teaching at Colosse. It is divided into two parts:
(1) Christ's supremacy in creation (vv. 15-17);
(2) Christ's supremacy in redemption (vv.
18-20). [NIV SB]
This is one of the strongest statements
about the divine nature of Christ found anywhere
in the Bible. Jesus is not only equal to God
(Philip. 2:6), he 'is' God (John 10:30, 38; 12:45;
14:1-11); as the image of the invisible God, he is the
exact representation of God. He not only reflects
God, but he reveals God to us (John 1:18; 14:9);
as the firstborn over all creation, he has all
the priority and authority of the firstborn
prince in a king's household. He came from heaven,
not from the dust of the earth (1 Cor. 15:47),
and he is Lord of all (Romans 9:5; 10:11-13;
Rev. 1:5; 17:14). He is completely holy (Hebrews
7:26-28; 1 Peter 1:19; 2:22; 1 John 3:5), and he has
authority to judge the world (Romans 2:16; 2 Cor.
5:10; 2 Tim. 4:1). Therefore, Christ is supreme
over all creation, including the spirit world.
We, like the Colossian believers, must believe
in the deity of Jesus Christ (that Jesus is
God) or our Christian faith is hollow,
misdirected, and meaningless. This is a central truth of
Christianity. We must oppose those who say that Jesus was
merely a prophet or a good teacher. [Life
Application SB]
The Four Great Christological Passages.
(vv. 15-20) These verses, one of the four
great Christological passages of the N.T. are
probably an early Christian hymn (cf. Phil. 2:6-11,
note). In this text, and the verses that follow,
the lordship of Christ is affirmed as existing
over creation, the church, and the individual
Christian. He truly is the cosmic Christ. Christ's
likeness or "image" (eikon, Gk.) to God is so genuine
that it provides man with a perfect manifestation
and exact representation of God. In the person
of Jesus Christ incarnate, we see a revelation
of the invisible God. "Firstborn" (prototokos,
Gk.) indicates that the historic Jesus was none
other than the preexistent Christ, who is
coeternal with the Father. The terminology "firstborn"
is a reference to priority of position. It is a
term that emphasizes quality or kind, not time.
The idea of "preeminence" conveys the meaning of
the term. Each person who is saved becomes a son
of God by adoption; nonetheless, because of His
deity, the Son has a priority of position over all
others (who are children by adoption rather than
begetting), and, in fact, over all the created order.
[Believers SB]
COMMENTARY PEARL
As science and technology advance, so
does our understanding of God's design for our
bodies and the world around us. In 1979 scientists
Rupert Timpl and George R Martin discovered a
substance they called laminin. Think of it as body
glue. Basically, laminin holds our cells together.
Without laminin every tissue of every living thing
wouldn't stay together. It's a microscopic key to our
survival.
In a paper published in the Journal of
Biological Chemistry, Timpl and Martin said laminin
"consisted of at least two polypeptide chains joined to
each other by disulfide bonds." Say what? While
the science sounds confusing, when you see what
laminin looks like, its power becomes clear.
Scientists who study the human cell under incredibly
powerful electron microscopes have found that all
laminins discovered so far are in a cross-like shape.
So the protein that holds our cells together
looks like a cross.
Pastor Louie Giglio is a popular
author and speaker who talks about
amazing creations that reflect God's
handiwork. Search for "Louie
Giglio on YouTube for awesome
information on laminin and more.
How crazy is that," said pastor Louie
Giglio. "The stuff that holds our bodies together,
that's holding the linings of your organs together,
that's holding your skin on, is in the shape of the
cross of our Lord Jesus Christ."
God's design, love, and power display
themselves in all of creation - even in places that the
human eye cannot see. God's fingerprints are on
everything. He even holds our bodies together with the
symbol of his never-failing love. In Colossians
1:16-17 the apostle Paul wrote, "For in him all
things were created: things in heaven and on earth,
visible and invisible. He is before all things, and
in him all things hold together." Paul probably
had no idea about laminin. But he had a
rocksolid faith based on the cross of Jesus Christ.
As you go through life, you'll probably
experience times of doubt in your Christian faith. You
may hear a teacher discredit Christ, see a TV
show that argues against Christianity, or
experience a time when God feels far away. When that
happens, remember to look at the cross. The cross
holds our Christian faith together, just like
cross-shaped laminin holds our cells together. Jesus gave
his life so we can be forgiven and know God
personally. Without the cross, we could never have that
bond. So hold on to the cross, and hold close to
Christ.
"For in him all things were created:
things in heaven and on earth, visible and
invisible. He is before all things, and in him all
things hold together" Colossians 1:16 -17. [Case
For Christ For Kids by Les Strobel]
COMMENTARY
If we want to see God, we can look at
Christ. Those who lived during the Old Testament era
sometimes saw the effects of God - a pillar of fire or
a burning bush, for example - but we can see
God himself in Jesus. Christ veiled God's glory
in human flesh, but he came to unveil God's
true nature. Jesus told Philip, "Anyone who has
seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). The
writer of Hebrews calls Jesus "the radiance of
God's glory and the exact representation of his
being" (Hebrews 1:3). And here in Colossians 1:15,
Paul refers to him as "the image of the invisible
God."
If we want to know about God, we need to
learn about Jesus. If we want to see God, we can
look at Jesus. And if we want to follow God, we
have to follow Jesus. [NIV Once A Day Bible re
Col. 1:15]
Who was the little baby in the manger we
celebrate at Christmas?
Colossians 1:15 says, Christ is the
visible image of the invisible God (NLT).
You've heard the phrase that, if you want
something done right, do it yourself. God wanted to do
the job of saving you right, so he came to earth
himself. He didn't come as an avatar, an angel, or a
prophet. God came as a person. He became the baby and
then the man Jesus Christ.
People all around the world celebrate the
little baby in the manger because that child is
God, come to live with his people.
If you want to know what God is like,
take a look at Jesus.
But Jesus didn't come simply to live. He
came to die for your sins so that you can spend
eternity with God.
Why was this necessary?
Because even though God is a God of love,
he is also a God of justice. Justice demands
wrongs be righted. It demands that the debt of sin
be paid for.
And, heaven is perfect, but were not.
Because of that, we need a Savior. God gets
imperfect people into heaven through grace.
The Good News of Christmas is that God
gave the gift of his Son to pay for everything
you have ever done wrong and offer you the grace
to enter heaven.
The Bible says, When [Jesus] served as
a sacrifice for our sins, he solved the sin
problem for good - not only ours, but the whole
worlds (1 John 2:1 The Message).
That gift will beat anything under your
tree this year. You just need to accept it.
[Daily Devotional by Rick Warren:
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/]
ILLUSTRATION
Christ is running the show. Right now. A
leaf just fell from a tree in the Alps. Christ
caused it to do so. A newborn baby in India inhaled
for the first time. Jesus measured the breath.
The migration of the belugas through the oceans?
Christ dictates their itinerary. He is 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. (Col. 1:15"16)
What a phenomenal list! Heavens and
earth. Visible and invisible. Thrones, dominions,
rulers, and authorities. No thing, place, or person
omitted. The scale on the sea urchin. The hair on the
elephant hide. The hurricane that wrecks the coast,
the rain that nourishes the desert, the
infants first heartbeat, the elderly persons
final breath - all can be traced back to the hand
of Christ, the firstborn of creation.
Firstborn in Pauls vernacular has
nothing to do with birth order. Firstborn refers to
order of rank. As one translation states: He
ranks higher than everything that has been made
(v. 15) Everything? Find an exception. Peters
mother-in-law has a fever; Jesus rebukes it. A tax needs
to be paid; Jesus pays it by sending first a
coin and then a fishermans hook into the mouth
of a fish. When five thousand stomachs growl,
Jesus renders a boys basket a bottomless
buffet. Jesus exudes authority. He bats an eyelash,
and nature jumps. No one argues when, at the end
of his earthly life, the God-man declares,
All authority has been given to Me in heaven and
on earth (Matt. 28:18).
The Christ of the galaxies is the Christ
of your Mondays. The Starmaker manages your
travel schedule. Relax. You have a friend in high
places. Does the child of Arnold Schwarzenegger
worry about tight pickle-jar lids? Does the son of
Nike founder Phil Knight sweat a broken
shoestring? If the daughter of Bill Gates cant turn
on her computer, does she panic?
No. Nor should you. [Max Lucado Daily
Devotional at maxlucado.com]
Many people dread their work. If
youre one of them, try changing your attitude
toward your work! Gods eyes fall on the work of
our hands. One stay-at-home-mom keeps this sign
over her sink: Divine tasks performed here,
daily. Indeed, work can be worship.
Peter wrote, You are a chosen people.
You are a kingdom of priests, a holy nation,
Gods very own possession. This is so you can
show others the goodness of God. (1 Peter
2:9). So, let every detail in your life - your
words, actions, whatever - be done in the name of
the Master, Jesus. (Colossians 3:17). You
dont drive to an office, you drive to a
sanctuary. You dont attend a school, you attend a
temple. You may not wear a clerical collar, but you
could, because your work is Gods pulpit! [Max
Lucado Daily Devotional at maxlucado.com]
Once a doctor was awakened in the middle
of the night by a phone call from a man to
whose family he had not rendered medical treatment
for quite some time.
"Doctor," said the excited man, "please
come to my house right away. My wife is in great
pain, and I'm sure it's appendicitis."
The doctor had been sleepily mulling over
the medical history of the family and said,
"Well now, it probably isn't anything like that.
I'll come around first thing in the morning.
Don't worry. It's probably just indigestion."
"But, Doctor, you've got to come now. I'm
positive it's appendicitis," protested the alarmed
husband.
"Oh, come now, Mr. Johnson," the doctor
said, somewhat irritably, "I took out your wife's
appendix almost two years ago. You know as well as I
do that she doesn't have another one."
"That's all true, Doctor," said the
husband, "but I've got another wife!"
Sometimes things are not as they first
appear. My German heritage blessed me with blonde
hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. My best friend's
American Indian background graced her with dark eyes,
dark hair, and beautiful olive skin (I envy her).
The strange thing is that people are always
asking us if we are sisters. Go figure! After being
best friends for twenty-five years, we have
evidently grown to look alike, even though we think we
look nothing alike.
Once, a woman in Harrods department store
in London asked if we were twins. We just
looked at each other and laughed. In fact, so many
people have asked us through the years if we're
sisters that we have just started saying yes. We
are, after all, sisters in the Lord.
While it's fun for us to look alike, it
is more vital that we grow to look like "the
visible image of the invisible God" so others can
find him too.
Dear God, please hear my prayer: I want
to look like you, Lord. Just like you. Amen.
[The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter by
Mary Hollingsworth]
TESTIMONY
Most people think that they get themselves
up when they awake in the morning and dont
realize that Jesus has touched them and given them
life for another day. [From a Christian I met in
a Laundromat in Eufaula OK]
CLOSING THOUGHT
The Passion of the Christ
When I saw the movie The Passion of the
Christ, I was struck by the brute cruelty with which
the soldiers treated Jesus. Like a bunch of
poorly paid drunken legionnaires, they couldn't
wait to take out all their frustrations on, who
they thought was, a stupid, luckless Jew. They
beat and abused him mercilessly.
The face which Moses had begged to see -
was forbidden to see - was slapped bloody
(Exodus 33:19-20). The thorns that God had sent to
curse the earth's rebellion now twisted around his
brow. The back and the rear of Jesus' legs felt
the whip - soon the body of the Savior would
look like a plowed Judean field. By the time the
spitting is through, more saliva is on Jesus than in
him. When the soldiers raised the mallet to sink
the spikes into Jesus' hands, it occurred to me
that the Son of God whom they were crucifying was
the very One sustaining their lives! Someone
must sustain their lives minute-by-minute, for no
man has this power on his own. Who supplies
breath to his lungs? Who gives energy to his cells?
Who holds a man's molecules together? Only by
the Son do "all things hold together"
(Colossians 1:17). How amazing, how incomprehensible
that the Son, the victim, is granting breath and
being to his own executioners!
Close your eyes and think deeply on the
things you just read. Consider so great a Savior
who would submit himself to such torture... for
your salvation. Think of the cost and sacrifice
involved in Jesus' crucifixion. Then, commit afresh
and anew to live on a higher, more sanctified
level as you trust and obey him with new resolve.
Praise your Savior for granting you breath and
being, as well as life eternal.
Dear Savior, I am awestruck that you did
not turn away from the cross, but traveled the
road to Calvary for me. May my life today reflect
my love and devotion to you. [A Spectacle of
Glory by Joni Eareckson Tada and Larry Libby]
PRACTICAL APPLICATION
I am before all things, and in Me all
things hold together. I have always been and will
always be. All things were created by Me: things in
heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. I am
Lord over creation, over the church, over
everything! Worship Me as your vibrant Lord, the living
God. I want My loved ones to thirst for Me - as
the deer pants for streams of water.
Do not be satisfied with only thinking
about Me or knowing Me intellectually. Thirst for
experiential knowledge of Me, grounded in sound biblical
truth. Seek to know My Love that far surpasses mere
knowledge. You will need the help of My Spirit to
accomplish this.
You must be strengthened with mighty
Power by the Holy Spirit, who indwells your
innermost being and personality. Invite Him to empower
and guide you in this amorous adventure. But
remember that I am the goal of your searching - make
Me central in your quest. You will seek Me and
find Me when you search for Me with all your
heart! (Col. 1:16, 17; Psa. 42:1, 2; Eph. 3:16-19
AMP; Jer. 29:13) [Jesus Always by Sarah Young]
LINKS TO SPECIAL CHRISTMAS VIDEOS
The Chosen Special Christmas Episode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paOjgZZDads
The Joy of Christmas with Bill & Gloria
Gaither and Friends [YouTube Premiere]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU_f_xNKZkY
[watch Glorias testimony near the end at
about 1:00:10 into the program]
YOUR COMMENTS
If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in
hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred
Gibbs
LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT
Most Important Decision in Life:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0
A Man without Equal by Bill Bright:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo
Seeking God Made Real:
http://vimeo.com/31489782
Prayer Made Real:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE
Importance of Choice:
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]
Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David
DeRose, MD, MPH:
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart
LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES
Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies:
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/
Amazing Facts Bible Studies:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx
Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides:
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2
Glow Tract Video Bible Studies:
http://www.bibleresearch.info/
LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS
Revelation Now by Pastor Doug Batchelor
(recent): https://www.revelationnow.com/
Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of
Adventist World Radio (recent):
https://bible.awr.org/en/the-signs/
Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW:
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens
Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657
