COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

An Exegesis

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PHIL 2:6-11 KIT/NWT 84

PHIL 2:6-11 KIT/NWT 84

NEW WORLD TRANSLATION 2013 REVISION [BRACKETS REMOVED] – PHIL

2:6-11

KINGDOM INTERLINEAR TRANSLATION WITH THE NWT 1984 EDITION

COLOSSIANS 1:15-20

COLOSSIANS 1:15-20 NWT 2013 REVISION [BRACKETS REMOVED]

2 PETER 1:1 KIT/NWT 84

2 PETER 1:1 – 2013 REVISED EDITION NWT [BRACKETS REMOVED]

COL 1:15-20 15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over

all* creation, 16 because all things in the heavens and on

the earth were created by him, things visible and things

invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or

powers, all things were created through him and for him,

17 and he himself is before all things, and in him all things

are held together, 18 and he himself is the head of the

body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from

the dead, so that he himself may become first in

everything, 19 because he was well pleased for all the

fullness to dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile

all things to himself, by* making peace through the blood

of his cross, through him, whether things on earth or

things in heaven. (LEB)

VERSE 15 15 who is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn over all* creation,

εἰκών that which has the same form as

someth. else (not a crafted object . . .), living image BDAG

IMAGE εἰκών (LN 58.35; 58.61) (BAGD 1.b. p. 222):

‘image’ [BAGD, Herm, Lns, NIC, NTC, WBC; KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NJB, NRSV, REB], ‘likeness’ [BAGD, LN (58.35)], ‘representation’ [LN (58.61)], ‘visible likeness’ [TEV], ‘visible image’ [NLT]. The clause ὃς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ ‘who is the image of God’ is translated ‘He in his own person shows us what God is like’ [TNT], ‘is exactly like God’ [CEV], ‘he reveals perfectly what God is like’ [SSA]. This word includes a likeness, a representation and a revealing [EG, Lt, SSA], a likeness in an essential characteristic or attribute [ICC], a visible [Ea, EG, My], exact and perfect representation in every detail [Ea]. An Exegetical Summary of Colossians (p. 49).

JESUS IS . . . The perfect likeness, representation and

image of the invisible God (Heb 1:3, Phil 2:6)

The visible image of God (Jn 1:18b) Since God is invisible, this is speaking to

the Son’s essence and character He perfectly reflects the essence of the

invisible God (paraphrase)

FIRSTBORN 15 who is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn over all creation,

Πρωτότοκος

① lit. pert. to birth order, firstborn

② pert. to having special status associated with a firstborn, firstborn,

FIRSTBORN 13.79 πρωτότοκος pertaining to existing prior to something

else—‘existing first, existing before.’

πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως ‘existing before

all creation’ or ‘existing before anything was

created’ Col 1:15. It is possible to

understand πρωτότοκος in Col 1:15 as

‘superior in status’ (see 87.47).

Louw, J. P., & Nida,

ΠΡΩΤΌΤΟΚΟΣ QUESTION—What is meant by πρωτότοκος

‘firstborn’? It was a title of the Messiah [ICC, Lt, NIC, SSA,

TNTC]. It means that Jesus is the eternal Son of God and thus is God [Lns] and not a created being [EG, Lns]. It does not refer to Jesus’ birth as a human being [Alf, TH], but to his relation to God as the eternal Son of God and his heir [TH]. ‘Image of the invisible God’ refers to Christ’s relation to God, and ‘firstborn of all creation’ to his relation to the creation [Lg, Lt, My, WBC].

An Exegetical Summary of Colossians (p. 51).

VERSE 16 because all things in the heavens and

on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all things were created through him and for him,

πάντα pert. to totality with focus on its

individual components, each, every, any

VERSE 16 because all things in the heavens and

on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all things were created through him and for him,

1) All created things2) Everything in the heavens and earth3) Jesus is the creator of all things created 4) If Jesus is a created being, where was

He when He created?

VERSE 16 because all things in the heavens and

on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all things were created through him and for him,

All inclusive Includes the invisible things

TRANSLATORS QUESTION—What is meant by ‘all

things in the heavens and on the earth’?

It refers to all created things [Alf, Ea, EG, EGT, ICC, Lg, Lt, My, SSA, TH, TNTC], both animate and inanimate [TH]. It includes everything in the heavens and on the earth [Herm, Lns, My], that is, in the universe [Ea, LN, Lns]. It means the inhabitants of heaven and earth [NIC]. It emphasizes the fact that absolutely everything is included [Lns, NTC, SSA, WBC]. Exegetical Summary of Colossians (p. 53)

VERSE 16 because all things in the heavens and

on the earth were created by him, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers, all things were created through him and for him,

“but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.” (Heb 1:2)

FIRSTBORN HEIR Verse 15 and 16 indicate the meaning of

“firstborn” in 15 Jesus is the heir who possesses the

rights of the firstborn Does not and cannot mean “first

created” via the context

CHRIST THE CREATOR “all things were created through him

and for him”

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (Jn 1:3)

but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. (Heb 1:2-3)

VERSE 17 17 And he is before all things, and

in him all things hold together.

What are the “all things” via the context?

ALL CREATED THINGS WHICH IS WHY THE NWT MUST

PERVERT THE TEXT BY STATING “Also, he is before all [other] things

and by means of him all [other] things were made to exist”

VERSE 17 V. 17 is a restatement of 15-16

Parallelism He existed before all created things

Or, before all of the created order (both physical or immaterial) Jesus, the Son pre-existed

VERSE 17 Jesus is before all things… But, only God is before all things to the only God, our Savior, through

Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 1:25)

Jesus is referred to as both God/Savior (Tit 2:13, 2 Pet 1:1) and before all things in the NT

Concepts and titles only reserved for God

VERSE 17 17 And he is before all things, and in

him all things hold together.

Again, Hebrews 1:3 states that Jesus,

“upholds the universe by the word of his power”

FOLLOW THE PRONOUNS 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn

of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and

on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities---all things were created through him and for him.

17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

VERSE 18 18 And he is the head of the body,

the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent

Christ the head of the church Not man or councils Not confessions Not Popes

VERSE 18 “18 And he is the head of the body, the

church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent”

Beginning = firstborn from the dead Beginning = firstborn = head of the

church Beginning or founder of the church via

being the firstborn from the dead (resurrection)

Not speaking about being created

TEXTUAL NOTE

See the note on the term

“firstborn” in 1:15. Here the

reference to Jesus as the

“firstborn from among the dead”

seems to be arguing for a

chronological priority, i.e., Jesus

was the first to rise from the

dead.

Biblical Studies Press. (2006). The NET Bible First Edition Notes. Biblical Studies Press.

VERSE 18 who is (the) beginning,a

LEXICON—a. ἀρχή (LN 68.1; 89.16) (BAGD 1.d. p.112): ‘beginning’ [BAGD, Herm, LN (68.1), Lns, NIC, NTC, WBC; CEV, KJV, NAB, NASB, NIV, NJB, NRSV], ‘origin’ [LN (89.16); REB], ‘founder’ [TNT]. This clause is translated ‘he is the source of the body’s life’ [TEV], ‘he causes the Church to live spiritually’ [SSA], ‘he is first in everything’ [NLT].

Exegetical Summary of Colossians (p. 59)

VERSE 18 “18 And he is the head of the body,

the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent”

Remember the meaning of firstborn in 15?

pert. to having special status associated with a firstborn, firstborn,

This meaning is incorporated into v. 18

FOLLOW THE PROGRESSION

V. 15 – firstborn V. 16 – all things created for Him

V. 18 – He is preeminent

FIRSTBORN AND PREEMINENCE

28 tn The Greek term πρωτότοκος (prōtotokos) could refer either to

first in order of time, such as a first born child, or it could refer to one

who is preeminent in rank. M. J. Harris, Colossians and Philemon

(EGGNT), 43, expresses the meaning of the word well: “The ‘firstborn’

was either the eldest child in a family or a person of preeminent rank.

The use of this term to describe the Davidic king in Ps 88:28 LXX (=Ps

89:27 EVV), ‘I will also appoint him my firstborn (πρωτότοκον), the

most exalted of the kings of the earth,’ indicates that it can denote

supremacy in rank as well as priority in time. But whether the πρωτό-

element in the word denotes time, rank, or both, the significance of the

-τοκος element as indicating birth or origin (from τίκτω, give birth to)

has been virtually lost except in ref. to lit. birth.” In Col 1:15 the

emphasis is on the priority of Jesus’ rank as over and above creation

(cf. 1:16 and the “for” clause referring to Jesus as Creator).Biblical Studies Press.

NET BIBLE

VERSE 19 19 For in him all the fullness of

God was pleased to dwell, Greek literal translation, “because in him, he was pleased for

all the fullness to dwell” No mention of deity or God dwelling…

but inferred

VERSE 19 “because in him, he was pleased for

all the fullness to dwell”

9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, (Col 2:9)

Πλήρωμα a total quantity, with emphasis upon

completeness—‘full number, full measure, fullness, completeness, totality.’ Louw, J. P., & Nida,

MEANING All of Him (God) completely dwells in the

Son Deity Col 2:9 helps to full this out where it

states, 9 For in him the whole fullness of

deity dwells bodily, (Col 2:9) πλήρωμα τῆς θεότητος 12.13 θεότης, ητος f; θειότης, ητος f;

θεῖονa, ου n: (derivatives of θεόςa ‘God,’ 12.1) the nature or state of being God—‘deity, divine nature, divine being.’

VERSE 20 20 and through him to reconcile

to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

Christ and His cross the focus of redemption

ALL THINGS UNDER KING CHRIST’S RULE AND AUTHORITY

Matt 28:18 – “And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

VERSE 20 To reconcile both animate and inanimate things means

bringing into harmony [ICC, My, TNTC], bringing under the rulership of Christ [Herm, TH], restoring to the relation to Christ which was ordained by God [EG, Herm], putting people into a right relationship with God, which will result in the creation being restored and all evil destroyed [TNTC], removing from the present relation or condition [Lg, Lns] and bringing into a new one [Lns], the removal of the hostility of God, which he had because of sin [Ea, My], the vanquishing of enmity [Herm]. It implies that there has been alienation [Lg, My, TH]. Sinners, in being reconciled, are no longer at enmity with God, while the angels who have not sinned are brought into a closer relationship with him and are able to glorify him in a more exalted way King, M. (2008). An Exegetical Summary of Colossians (2nd

ed., p. 66). Dallas, TX: SIL International.

QUESTIONS