Col 1:15-23 | 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 ).

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).
1:16 ⁱ Thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world refer to various spiritual powers. This line emphasizes Christ’s supremacy over these beings who were getting so much attention from the false teachers (see 2:18 ^j).

• Everything was created through him and for him: Christ is both the one through whom all things were created and the goal of all creation.
1:18 ^k head of the church: The Greek word kephalē (head) usually has the sense of authority over or chief when Paul uses it as a metaphor (see also 2:10 ^l, 19 ^m; 1 Cor 11:3-10 ⁿ; Eph 4:15 ^o; 5:23 ^p).

• which is his body: The metaphor of the church as Christ’s body expresses the essential unity of Christ and the church (see also Col 1:24 ^q; 2:19 ^r; 3:15 ^s; Eph 1:23 ^t; 2:16 ^u; 4:4 ^v, 12 ^w; 5:23 ^x, 30 ^y).

• supreme over all who rise from the dead (or the firstborn from the dead): See study note on Col 1:15.
1:19 ^z God in all his fullness emphasizes that God has chosen to reveal himself fully in Jesus Christ. Seeing Jesus and understanding him therefore means seeing and understanding God (see John 14:6-11 ^aa). The false teachers seemed to be saying that Christians needed to look to other spiritual beings to find out more about God (see Col 1:16 ^ab, 20 ^ac). But Christ is sufficient for all our knowledge of God (cp. 2:8-9 ^ad).
1:20 ^ae Through Christ, God has reconciled everything to himself, reestablishing his rule over all creation, including both the spiritual and the earthly realms.
Summary for Col 1:21-23: 1:21-23 ^af Paul applies the truth of 1:15-20 ^ag to the Colossian Christians. As people who have been reconciled to God, they enjoy a new spiritual status and need to stand firm in the truth they have been taught. 1:21 ^ah The phrase once far away from God probably refers to their condition as Gentiles (see Eph 2:12 ^ai).
1:22 ^aj The Colossians, like all believers, were holy and blameless in God’s sight not because of their own perfection but because they had been reconciled with God through Christ’s death.
1:23 ^ak preached all over the world (literally preached to every creature under heaven): The point of Paul’s hyperbole (exaggeration for emphasis) is that centers for preaching the Good News had been established in key cities throughout the Roman world (see also 1:6 ^al).