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

      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;
▪︎ Pleasure of God – Isa 53:10; Heb 12:2;

Discussion Questions
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1. What are the primary characterists of Christ that Paul presents here?

▪︎ He is the radiance of God’s glory, and the expressed image of His person – Col 1:15; Heb 1:3;
▪︎ He is the prototokos, the firstborn, the most important one, the favored one, the preeminent one – Col 1:17-18; Eph 1:10, 20-21, 22-23;
▪︎ He created all things – Col 1:16; Heb 1:2;
▪︎ He holds all things together – Col 1:17; Heb 1:3;
▪︎ He holds all the fullness of the godhead in bodily form – Col 1:19, 2:9-10; Eph 3:18-19;
▪︎ Reconciler – Col 1:20-21; Titus 3:5; 2Cor 5:18-19;
▪︎ Head of the Church.
▪︎ Firstborn from the dead, Resurrection Power of an indestructible, perfect life.
▪︎ Sustainer of the universe.

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

▪︎ For all time – Col 1:15, 18;
▪︎ All things – Col 1:16-17;
▪︎ Visible, invisible- Col 1:15, 16;
▪︎ In heaven, on earth – Col 1:16;
▪︎ All thrones, rulers – Col 1:16;
▪︎ All dominions – Col 1:16;
▪︎ Church matters – Col 1:18;
▪︎ Everything – Col 1:18;
▪︎ All fullness – Col 1:19;
▪︎ Everything Salvation – Col 1:20;
▪︎ This can only be known if God reveals it to us; consequently, we must take Him at His word, by faith – Rom 1:16, 17; 2Cor 5:7;

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?

▪︎ All time, beginning to end, alpha and omega – Rev 1:8, 22:13;
▪︎ All experiences, seen and unseen.
▪︎ All the universe, all light years.
▪︎ All principalities – Eph 6:12;
▪︎ All means ALL.

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

▪︎ Filled up to all fulness, cramed in, beyond rated capacity.
▪︎ Filled to the fulness of God who has the highest capacity for fulness.
▪︎ Filled to overflowing all limits.
▪︎ Achieving to the point that we make God happy.
▪︎ Everything that could benefit our lives is available to us through faith in Jesus Christ.
▪︎ Beyond measure with joy, eagerness, excitement, gratitude, favor, grace, ability, assurance, wisdom, knowledge, righteousness…

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

▪︎ God put all fulness in Christ so that it is always available to us.
▪︎ God calls us to a supporting ministry with Christ – Matt 28:18-19; John 20:31;
▪︎ We can become a part of the process of reconcilling the world to God – 2Cor 5:18, 19, 20;
▪︎ Christ became the propitiation for our sins and the sins of the whole world – 1John 2:2;
▪︎ He made peace with God a reality for us – Rom 5:1-2;
▪︎ While we were still helpless, He died, reconciling us to Himself – Rom 5:6;
▪︎ While we were enemies, He died for us and the whole world – Rom 5:10;