All things such as space, energy, and authority were created by God's perfect representative, that is the supreme God-Man Jesus Christ.
#Christ
#creation
#authority
Published January 27th, 2018
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Phrase
editing
NT
Colossians 1:15-16
nkjv
He is
the image
Content #1
of the ... God,
invisible
Distinction
the firstborn
Content #2
over ... creation.
Reference
all
For ...
Ground
all things were created
Content
by Him
Manner
Space
that are in heaven
Locative
and that are on earth,
Energy
visible
Context
and invisible,
Authority
whether thrones
or dominions
or principalities
or powers.
All things were created
through Him
Agency
and for Him.
Advantage
Could refer to first in order of time or first in rank The eldest son was the firstborn son who was highest in rank. He got the double portion
phrasing
Notes
These verses about the supremacy of the Son of God are the key to the book of Colossians. The Colossian believers were strong in their faith in Christ and sincere in their love for the saints. But as in all the gatherings of the saints, the enemy was at work to weaken them by pressuring them to a different focus from the supreme Christ to false gods with their vain philosophy and empty deceit which was not according to the ever-happy and all-satisfying Christ (2:1-10). In addition, the enemy attempted to undermine the liberty in Christ by yoking some of them back to the law. Paul reminds them that the keeping of the law without Christ is not possible and all self-efforts will not satisfy in the long-run. But Christ fulfilled all the demands of the law and the blessing of it is received by faith in Christ (2:11-23). Then Paul instructs how these blessings are practically lived out day by day (Chapter 3-4). Who is the Son? Verse 15 The image of the invisible God. Jesus Christ perfectly represents God in human form. The firstborn over all creation. Jesus Christ is supreme over all the majesty of creation. He is the origin of it, the agency through whom it happened, and the purpose for why everything exists. Is the "for" of verse 16 a support for verse 15 by distinct or restatement? In case of a distinct statement, the truth of the Son is supported with the ground that by Him all things were created. Ps 19:1 and Rm 1:20 support the idea of a distinct statement. They say: "Think about creation and it should lead conclusively to the invisible and preeminent God behind it all." Verse 16 is talking about creation and not the nature of God which makes it a distinct statement and not a restatement.
notes