Colossians 1:15-20 – Christ Creator and Head of All

      15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by Him 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. 17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Interesting Words
image

(εἰκών – Greek) – eikón ► Noun – likeness, representation, resemblance, properly, “mirror-like representation,” referring to what is very close in resemblance (like a “high-definition” projection, as defined by the context), exactly reflects its source, for example, Christ is the very image, supreme expression of the Godhead – 2Cor 4:4; Luke 20:24-25; Rom 8:29;

firstborn

(πρωτότοκος – Greek) – prototokos ► Noun, first-born, first, pre-eminent one, the first to experience glorification, i.e. at His resurrection. For this (and countless other reasons) Jesus is “preeminent”, the unequivocal Sovereign over all creation – Rom 8:29; Heb 1:5-6; Rev 1:5;

all things

(πᾶς – Greek) – pas ► Adjective – each, every; each “part(s) of a totality”, “all” in the sense of “each (every) part that applies.” The emphasis of the total picture then is on “one piece at a time.” –

before

(πρό – Greek) – pro ► “fore”, i.e. in front of, prior to… (figuratively) superior to – Mark 1:2; John 17:24; 1Cor 2:7; Eph 1:4;

first place

(πρωτεύω – Greek) – próteuó ► verb – from prótos (Matt 19:30; Rev 1:11) , foremost (in time, place, order or importance), to be first (in rank or influence) – used once in the NT, here in Col 1:18;

fullness

(πλήρωμα – Greek) – pléróma ► noun – from pléroó (to fully, completely fill, to cram), repletion or completion, i.e. (subjectively) what fills (as contents, supplement, copiousness, multitude), or (objectively) what is filled (as container, performance, period) – John 1:16; Eph 1:22-23, 3:19, 4:13;

Cross References
▪︎ Divine- Heb 1:3; John 1:18; Col 2:9;
▪︎ Preeminent – Eph 1:22-23;
▪︎ Fills all – Rom 15:13; Eph 4:10;

Discussion Questions
Download questions to Word document (click here). Enter your answers, then meet with some friends to discuss. You can also compare your answers to mine for a virtual discussion… answers

1. What are the primary characteristics of Christ that Paul presents here?

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2. What is the extent of His reign? How big is it? How far reaching? How do we know this?

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3. Col 1:16-17 has several ranges listed for the breadth of Christ’s Kingdom (other verses also apply). What are those ranges and why are they significant?

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4. What are the implications of the word “fullness” in Col 1:19?

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5. Describe the process that is happening in Col 1:19-20.

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