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Colossians 1:15-20An Exegesis Col 1:15-2015who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all* creation, 16because all things in the heavens and on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all things were created through him and for him, 17and he himself is before all things, and in him all things are held together, 18and he himself is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in everything, 19because he was well pleased for all the fullness to dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile all things to himself, by* making peace through the blood of his cross, through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven. (LEB)

The Perversion Known as the NWT15He is the imageof the invisibleGod, the firstbornof all creation;16because by means of himall [other]things were created in the heavens and upon the earth, the things visible and the things invisible, no matter whether they are thrones or lordships or governments or authorities.All [other] things have been created through himand for him.17Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist,18and he is the head of the body, the congregation.He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,that he might become the one who is firstin all things;19because [God]saw good for all fullnessto dwell in him,20and through him to reconcileagain to himself all [other] thingsby making peacethrough the blood[he shed] on the torture stake,no matter whether they arethe things upon the earth or the things in the heavens. (NWT)Verse 1515who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all* creation,

that which has the same form as someth. else (not a crafted object . . .), living image BDAG

IMAGE (LN 58.35; 58.61) (BAGD 1.b. p. 222): image [BAGD, Herm, Lns, NIC, NTC, WBC; KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NJB, NRSV, REB], likeness [BAGD, LN (58.35)], representation [LN (58.61)], visible likeness [TEV], visible image [NLT]. The clause who is the image of God is translated He in his own person shows us what God is like [TNT], is exactly like God [CEV], he reveals perfectly what God is like [SSA]. This word includes a likeness, a representation and a revealing [EG, Lt, SSA], a likeness in an essential characteristic or attribute [ICC], a visible [Ea, EG, My], exact and perfect representation in every detail [Ea]. An Exegetical Summary of Colossians (p. 49). Jesus Is . . .The perfect likeness, representation and image of the invisible God (Heb 1:3, Phil 2:6)The visible image of God (Jn 1:18b)Since God is invisible, this is speaking to the Sons essence and character He perfectly reflects the essence of the invisible God (paraphrase)

Firstborn 15who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,

lit. pert. to birth order, firstborn pert. to having special status associated with a firstborn, firstborn,

Firstborn13.79 pertaining to existing prior to something elseexisting first, existing before. existing before all creation or existing before anything was created Col 1:15. It is possible to understand in Col 1:15 as superior in status (see 87.47). Louw, J. P., & Nida,

QUESTIONWhat is meant by firstborn?It was a title of the Messiah [ICC, Lt, NIC, SSA, TNTC]. It means that Jesus is the eternal Son of God and thus is God [Lns] and not a created being [EG, Lns]. It does not refer to Jesus birth as a human being [Alf, TH], but to his relation to God as the eternal Son of God and his heir [TH]. Image of the invisible God refers to Christs relation to God, and firstborn of all creation to his relation to the creation [Lg, Lt, My, WBC].

An Exegetical Summary of Colossians (p. 51).

Thomas ConstableFirst-born" (Gr.prototokos) may denote either priority in time or supremacy in rank (cf. v. 18; Exod. 4:22; Ps. 89:27; Rom. 8:29; Heb. 1:6; Rev. 1:15). It may also denote both of these qualities. Both seem to be in view here. Christ was before all creation in time, and He is over all creation in authority. In view of the context (vv. 16-20), the major emphasis seems to be on His sovereignty, however.48What "first-born" doesnotmean is that Christ was the first created being, which ancient Arians believed and modern Jehovah's Witnesses teach. This is clear because verses 16-18 state that Christ existed before all things and is the Creator Himself. Other passages also affirm His responsibility for creation (cf. John 1:3; 3:16; Rom. 8:29; Heb. 1:6; 11:28; 12:23).(Constable, pg. 14)Norman Geisler"Though it is grammatically possible to translate this as 'Firstbornin Creation,' the context makes this impossible for five reasons: (1) The whole point of the passage (and the book) is to show Christ's superiority overall things. (2) Other statements about Christ in this passage (such as Creator of all [1:16], upholder of Creation [v. 17], etc.) clearly indicate His priority and superiority over Creation. (3) The 'Firstborn' cannot be part of Creation if He created 'all things.' One cannot create himself. (Jehovah's Witnesses wrongly add the word 'other' six times in this passage in theirNew World Translation. Thus they suggest that Christ created all other things after He was created! But the word 'other' is not in the Gr.) (4) The 'Firstborn' received worship of all angels (Heb. 1:6), but creatures should not be worshiped (Ex. 20:4-5). (5) The Greek word for 'Firstborn' isprototokos. If Christ were the 'firstcreated,' the Greek word would have beenprotoktisis."(Ibid.)Verse 16because all things in the heavens and on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all things were created through him and for him,

pert. to totality with focus on its individual components, each, every, any

Verse 16because all things in the heavens and on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all things were created through him and for him,

All created thingsEverything in the heavens and earthJesus is the creator of all things created If Jesus is a created being, where was He when He created?

Verse 16because all things in the heavens and on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all things were created through him and for him,

All inclusiveIncludes the invisible things

Translators QUESTIONWhat is meant by all things in the heavens and on the earth?It refers to all created things [Alf, Ea, EG, EGT, ICC, Lg, Lt, My, SSA, TH, TNTC], both animate and inanimate [TH]. It includes everything in the heavens and on the earth [Herm, Lns, My], that is, in the universe [Ea, LN, Lns]. It means the inhabitants of heaven and earth [NIC]. It emphasizes the fact that absolutely everything is included [Lns, NTC, SSA, WBC].Exegetical Summary of Colossians (p. 53)

Verse 16because all things in the heavens and on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all things were created through him and for him,

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. (Heb 1:2)

Firstborn HeirVerse 15 and 16 indicate the meaning of firstborn in 15Jesus is the heir who possesses the rights of the firstbornDoes not and cannot mean first created via the contextChrist the Creatorall things were created through him and for him

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (Jn 1:3)

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. (Heb 1:2-3)Verse 1717And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

What are the all things via the context?ALL CREATED THINGSWHICH IS WHY THE NWT MUST PERVERT THE TEXT BY STATING Also, he is before all [other] things and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist

VERSE 17V. 17 is a restatement of 15-16Parallelism He existed before all created thingsOr, before all of the created order (both physical or immaterial) Jesus, the Son pre-existed

Verse 17Jesus is before all thingsBut, only God is before all thingsto the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 1:25)Jesus is referred to as both God/Savior (Tit 2:13, 2 Pet 1:1) and before all things in the NTConcepts and titles only reserved for GodVerse 1717And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Again, Hebrews 1:3 states that Jesus, upholds the universe by the word of his power

Follow the Pronouns15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities---all things were created through him and for him.17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.18And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.19For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.Verse 1818And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminentChrist the head of the churchNot man or councils Not confessions Not PopesVerse 1818And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminentBeginning = firstborn from the deadBeginning = firstborn = head of the churchBeginning or founder of the church via being the firstborn from the dead (resurrection) Not speaking about being created

Textual NoteSee the note on the term firstborn in 1:15. Here the reference to Jesus as the firstborn from among the dead seems to be arguing for a chronological priority, i.e., Jesus was the first to rise from the dead. Biblical Studies Press. (2006). The NET Bible First Edition Notes. Biblical Studies Press.

Verse 18who is (the) beginning,aLEXICONa. (LN 68.1; 89.16) (BAGD 1.d. p.112): beginning [BAGD, Herm, LN (68.1), Lns, NIC, NTC, WBC; CEV, KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NJB, NRSV], origin [LN (89.16); REB], founder [TNT]. This clause is translated he is the source of the bodys life [TEV], he causes the Church to live spiritually [SSA], he is first in everything [NLT].Exegetical Summary of Colossians (p. 59)

Verse 1818And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminentRemember the meaning of firstborn in 15?pert. to having special status associated with a firstborn, firstborn,This meaning is incorporated into v. 18

Follow the ProgressionV. 15 firstbornV. 16 all things created for HimV. 18 He is preeminent FIRSTBORN and PREEMINENCE 28 tn The Greek term (prtotokos) could refer either to first in order of time, such as a first born child, or it could refer to one who is preeminent in rank. M. J. Harris, Colossians and Philemon (EGGNT), 43, expresses the meaning of the word well: The firstborn was either the eldest child in a family or a person of preeminent rank. The use of this term to describe the Davidic king in Ps 88:28 LXX (=Ps 89:27 EVV), I will also appoint him my firstborn (), the most exalted of the kings of the earth, indicates that it can denote supremacy in rank as well as priority in time. But whether the - element in the word denotes time, rank, or both, the significance of the - element as indicating birth or origin (from , give birth to) has been virtually lost except in ref. to lit. birth. In Col 1:15 the emphasis is on the priority of Jesus rank as over and above creation (cf. 1:16 and the for clause referring to Jesus as Creator).Biblical Studies Press. NET BIBLE

Verse 1919For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,Greek literal translation,because in him, he was pleased for all the fullness to dwellNo mention of deity or God dwellingbut inferred Verse 19because in him, he was pleased for all the fullness to dwell

9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, (Col 2:9)

a total quantity, with emphasis upon completenessfull number, full measure, fullness, completeness, totality. Louw, J. P., & Nida,

Meaning All of Him (God) completely dwells in the SonDeityCol 2:9 helps to full this out where it states,9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, (Col 2:9) 12.13 , f; , f; a, n: (derivatives of a God, 12.1) the nature or state of being Goddeity, divine nature, divine being.

Verse 2020and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.Christ and His cross the focus of redemptionALL THINGS UNDER KING CHRISTS RULE AND AUTHORITYMatt 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

VERSE 20To reconcile both animate and inanimate things means bringing into harmony [ICC, My, TNTC], bringing under the rulership of Christ [Herm, TH], restoring to the relation to Christ which was ordained by God [EG, Herm], putting people into a right relationship with God, which will result in the creation being restored and all evil destroyed [TNTC], removing from the present relation or condition [Lg, Lns] and bringing into a new one [Lns], the removal of the hostility of God, which he had because of sin [Ea, My], the vanquishing of enmity [Herm]. It implies that there has been alienation [Lg, My, TH]. Sinners, in being reconciled, are no longer at enmity with God, while the angels who have not sinned are brought into a closer relationship with him and are able to glorify him in a more exalted way King, M. (2008). An Exegetical Summary of Colossians (2nd ed., p. 66). Dallas, TX: SIL International.

QUESTIONS