Paul comes to the heart of the gospel and the heart of his letter to the Christians in Colossae. 15–20 - Volume 36 Issue 3. We are not able to see God since He transcends space and time. As we have already seen in this letter, he is very concerned that these new Christians begin to grow up. Colossians 1:15-28 is a Christological proclamation, ode, and solution to these existential dangers. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (The problem, however, is that you think God's nature is "God" when it is not.) Author: Ángel Manuel Rodríguez - Retired What does it mean that Christ is called the “firstborn over all creation” (Col. 1:15)? In Heb. Retail: $44.99 . Paul had not visited Colossae, but had received reports from Epaphras, the missionary who most likely founded the church there (1:7). As with all good biblical exegesis, it is important to note the context of the verses and why they would be written and placed where they are. Colossians 1:1-14. Now, they also use Colossians 1:15-16 and you touched on this verse by bringing up Hebrews 1:1-3. The Greek for “firstborn” is proto with tikto which would give us “firstborn,” and that is what we find here in Colossians 1:15. There are two parts to this reading. Reading Colossians 1:15-23 The interpretation of Colossians 1:15-17 given by Oltramare should not be passed over. This means Jesus has the same nature as His Father. Colossians 1:15-18, Jesus Christ is Supreme! To be “firstborn” you cannot be God because God is never born (Numbers 23:19). 16 For by Him [Jesus] all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. Others believe that, in Colossians, Paul is referring to the resurrection (Acts 13:33). S. Lewis Johnson introduces his comments on this portion of Colossians with the following comments, which are very fitting to the focus of these verses. Colossians 1:25, CSB: "I have become its servant, according to God's commission that was given to me for you, ... Paul refers to himself as a "minster," using the Greek word diakonos, also meaning a "servant." Paul brings this truth boldly to the Colossian believers for two basic reasons. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Colossians 1:15. The first, verses 15-20, is a poem which catalogs and celebrates the characteristics of Christ. The sermon was the first in a series of sermons on our Quest for the Cosmic Christ which anticipates the season of Advent’s waiting and hoping for Christ to be born in us. herman said: This can be proven wrong if you can give me … Colossians 1:15-23: The Pre-eminence of Jesus and the Wonders of God Home > Full Study List > Colossians 1:15-23: ... 'Besides the obvious meaning of likeness (cf. The Supremacy of the Son of God - The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Reading the book of Colossians reveals that the Colossian Church had lost its focus on Christ. Bible Gateway Recommends. Colossians 1:15-20 is a strong reaffirmation to the Christians of Colosse that Christ is divine and the "image of the invisible God" (verse... See full answer below. Colossians 1:15 in all English translations. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. And so, echoing our psalm, Old Testament and Gospel readings today, Colossians takes us to the place of forgiveness. There has been much dialogue as to the meaning of prōtotokos in Col. 1:15. The NKJV, American Patriot's Bible, Hardcover: The Word of God and the Shaping of America. For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. Colossians 1:15-20 (NIV) 1. Paul is going to tell us why Jesus is great and why we must follow him and serve him. Our author here is defending the cosmic reconciliation that he had poetically evoked in Colossians 1:15-20 against any body/soul dualism. Colossians 1:15-18 (NASB) He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Reading from the Nehemiah Bible Church Youth Group Teen, Kierra Kennedy. Colossians 1:15 - Understand the meaning of Colossians 1:15 with Christian Bible study, teaching, sermons, and commentary search on hokma.com. COLOSSIANS 1:15 “He is the image of the invisible god” KING JAMES VERSION (KJV) TRANSLATION, MEANING, CONTEXT. Into Thy Word Ministries Bible Study www.intothyword.org ... Commentary—Word and Phrase Meanings: • Image of the invisible God. This is the argument that Christ is fully God and Lord; His deity is assured. Click to expand... No JW denies this, so this point is moot. Our Price: $38.49 Save: $16.50 (30%) Buy Now. Colossians 1:15-28 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: The Apostle Paul and his coworker Timothy wrote this letter to the church at Colossae (v. 1), a small city in Asia Minor (modern Turkey). Colossians 1:17(NASB) Verse Thoughts The irreducible deity and eternality of Christ is often a stumbling block to the limited minds of men, which gives rise to a plethora of false teachings and gnostic gospels, which results in esoteric, mystical confusion about the Person and Work of Jesus Christ - the eternal Son of God and perfect Son of Man. THE FIRSTBORN OF ALL CREATION- Interpretations The expression “firstborn of all creation” in Colossians 1:15 has been interpreted in three different ways. He never forgot them; and it was his joy when he found them standing fast in Christ, and his sorrow and his horror when they went away after anyone else. Colossians 1:15-201 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created by him – all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers – all things were created through him and for him. Our readings: John 1:1-6; Colossians 1:15-20; and Matthew 9:16-17. Something remarkable happens at the cross. God had in creation to provide by a plan of Redemption for the entrance of evil into the universe, and only on that condition could it take place. Colossians 1:15-18 has been called “The Great Christology” because it sets forth Paul’s inspired conviction and understanding of just who Jesus Christ is. Paul then shares how he came to be a diakonos of Christ's church. Poetry and Theology in Colossians 1. Jesus is the exact image of God His Father. Our Price: $31.49 Save: $13.50 (30%) Buy Now. NKJV . Colossians 2:5. NKJV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New King James Version. Colossians 1: 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Brent Kercheville December 5, 2010 Click here to listen to this lesson. In this article I shall argue for two points: first, that Col 1. He is the subject of the powerful description in Isaiah 40:9-18, and it is into His Kingdom we have been translated, meaning conveyed or transferred.Paul must mean that this translation is spiritual because God's Kingdom has not yet literally been established on earth. Paul was a servant of the gospel (Colossians 1:23) and of the church. Both were important parts of his ministry. T his verse is often used by those who deny the divinity of Christ, saying that He was the first being created by God. Colossians … He eliminates the idea of pre-existence from the passage, and says that the reference is throughout to Christ as Redeemer. If taken at face value, this verse means Jesus is the heir to his Father’s creation, which is the new creation, aka the church. Colossians 1:15 calls Jesus “the firstborn of all creation.”Does this verse teach that Jesus is a created being? “No one sews a piece of unshrunken cloth onto an old cloak, because the patch will pull away from the cloak and the tear will get worse. To get what Colossians 1:15 means based on its source text, scroll down or follow these links for the original scriptural meaning , biblical context and relative popularity. 2Cor.4:4), 'image' implies representation and manifestation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: The Apostle Paul wrote this letter (epistle) to the church at Colossae, a small city located on the Lycus River in Asia Minor (modern Turkey)—known for its production of wool and woolen goods. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. The Greek for “first-created” would be proto with ktizo, and it is not used here. Jesus Christ is not only our Savior but also our Creator. Retail: $54.99. By the time of the writing of this letter (probably the mid-50s A.D.), Laodicea had eclipsed Colossae as the most important city of the region. (Colossians 1:15) That plainly states what Charles Wesley has captured in his phrase, "Veiled in flesh the Godhead see." Colossians 1:15. Who — That is, the Son of God, in whose blood we have redemption; is the image of the invisible God — By the description here given of the glory of Christ, and his pre-eminence over the highest angels, the apostle lays a foundation for the reproof of all worshippers of angels. 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