Col 1:15 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Col 1:15-20: 1:15-20 Paul presents Jesus as the supreme creator (1:15-17 ) and redeemer (1:18-20 ). The series of short statements, the exalted conceptions of Christ, and the parallelism in language and thought strongly suggest that these verses quote an early Christian hymn about Jesus that Paul applied to the situation of the Colossian Christians. 1:15 visible image: In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, eikōn (“image, representation”) is used to refer to human beings having been made in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27 ) and also to the wisdom figure in Jewish writings (see Wisdom of Solomon 7:25-26). The New Testament writers speak about Christ as God’s wisdom to help explain his significance (cp. 1 Cor 1:24 , 30 ). • He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation (or He is the firstborn of all creation ): This phrase figured prominently in early Christian debates about the nature of Christ. Firstborn does not mean he was created; it is a title, drawn from the Old Testament, indicating supremacy of rank and priority in time (see, e.g., Ps 89:27 ).

a1:15-20►

b1:15-17►

c1:18-20►

d1:15►

eGen 1:26-27►

f1 Cor 1:24►

g30►

hPs 89:27►

‏ Colossians 1:15

Summary for Col 1:15-20: 1:15-20 ^a Paul presents Jesus as the supreme creator (1:15-17 ^b) and redeemer (1:18-20 ^c). The series of short statements, the exalted conceptions of Christ, and the parallelism in language and thought strongly suggest that these verses quote an early Christian hymn about Jesus that Paul applied to the situation of the Colossian Christians. 1:15 ^d visible image: In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, eikōn (“image, representation”) is used to refer to human beings having been made in the image of God (Gen 1:26-27 ^e) and also to the wisdom figure in Jewish writings (see Wisdom of Solomon 7:25-26). The New Testament writers speak about Christ as God’s wisdom to help explain his significance (cp. 1 Cor 1:24 ^f, 30 ^g).

• He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation (or He is the firstborn of all creation): This phrase figured prominently in early Christian debates about the nature of Christ. Firstborn does not mean he was created; it is a title, drawn from the Old Testament, indicating supremacy of rank and priority in time (see, e.g., Ps 89:27 ^h).