Col 1:18 | TNotes | STEP | 1:18 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 , 19 ; 1 Cor 11:3-10 ; Eph 4:15 ; 5:23 ). • 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 ; 2:19 ; 3:15 ; Eph 1:23 ; 2:16 ; 4:4 , 12 ; 5:23 , 30 ). • supreme over all who rise from the dead (or the firstborn from the dead ): See study note on Col 1:15.

a1:18►

b2:10►

c19►

d1 Cor 11:3-10►

eEph 4:15►

f5:23►

gCol 1:24►

h2:19►

i3:15►

jEph 1:23►

k2:16►

l4:4►

m12►

n5:23►

o30►

‏ Colossians 1:18

1:18 ^a 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 ^b, 19 ^c; 1 Cor 11:3-10 ^d; Eph 4:15 ^e; 5:23 ^f).

• 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 ^g; 2:19 ^h; 3:15 ⁱ; Eph 1:23 ^j; 2:16 ^k; 4:4 ^l, 12 ^m; 5:23 ⁿ, 30 ^o).

• supreme over all who rise from the dead (or the firstborn from the dead): See study note on Col 1:15.