9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Vs 9-10 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
The Apostle Paul after encouraging the believers in Colosse by reminding them of our mutual inheritance in heaven (vs. 5), and the fruitfulness of the Gospel, which also bears fruit in our lives and in all the world (vs. 6), is now returning to his thankfulness for them. Which began when he first heard of their faith and love in Colosse from Epaphras (the man who first brought the gospel to them, vs. 7), and not only of their love for Paul and Timothy, but also for all the saints (that is all of God's people everywhere). Therefore Paul in seeking to encourage and strengthen them in their faith and love, says since the day he heard of their faith in Jesus Christ and love for all the saints, has not ceased to pray for them, praying that they may all be filled with the knowledge of Christ's will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (vs. 9). For it is in knowing and obeying the Lord's will that both the believer individually, and church collectively, grows strong and matures, and thus bears much wholesome fruit. And so in contrast to the false apostles, prophets and teachers who had crept into Colosse and were trying to entice the believers away from the Lord by expounding to them all kinds of so called secret "spiritual knowledge". The Apostle Paul here emphasizes that both true knowledge of God and Jesus Christ's will for us is found in and through His Word. For it is only through the Word of God that the whole person in spirit, soul and body is, and will be sanctified by God (see John 17:17, 19; Eph 5:26; 1 Thess 5:23).
And so since we are commanded by our Lord and Savior to be doing good with our lives down here we are also by Jesus Christ's glorious power daily being "strengthened with all might for all patience, longsuffering and joy." Three things the Apostle Paul lists here and two of them have to do with our endurance in the faith, and one our joy. First the word translated patience, it basically means to have "the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances." Louw Nida In the NKJ in the N.T. it is variously rendered patience (Luke 21:19; Rom 15:4; Rev 2:2, 19); endurance (Heb 12:1) or perseverance (Rom 8:25; 2 Tim 3:10). All which is a prerequisite too our bearing fruit through the Word of God (consider Luke 8:15). And so we are too pursue this (1 Tim 6:11; 2 Peter 1:6) just as
God also works this attribute in our lives through the various trials, tribulations, and disconcerting things that we must pass through in this life (consider Rom 5:3; James 1:3; 5:11). For it is by patient continuance in doing good (often in the face of provocation) that one continues to demonstrate their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (consider Rom 2:7; 2 Cor 6:4). Therefore we are not only being empowered by Jesus Christ to live as His disciples, we are also by His resurrection power being sustained by Him, in all longsuffering and joy even though there are many spiritual forces of wickedness that war against our being so. Now the word translated longsuffering is a fruit of Spirit (see Gal 5:22) and it means
to have "a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or misfortune and without complaint or irritation—‘patience.’' Louw Nida It is the ability to bear up or endure in patience the stresses of living a Godly life which always brings with it it's own opposition (consider 2 Tim 3:12). And so we are Divinely empowered by God through His Spirit for that very purpose. For again though there are many forces at work in this world which seek to undermine and overthrow a believers faith and confidence In Christ we have a default state given us by God to help maintain our composure so that we need not fret or despair when the difficulties arise and our troublers come (consider Psalm 37).
Now we can forsake that default state and return to our old natures ways, and thus grieve the Holy Spirit when we do (consider Eph 4:29-31). Or we can allow ourselves to be transformed by the various trials and tribulations that God permits in our lives, so that we might more and more bear the true nature of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in our own persons and lives, which is patience and longsuffering in joy (consider Heb 6:12). For again Christian growth and fruitfulness never comes through ease of life, but by patience and endurance and joy through our trials of life. For we all have our own unique areas that we will need to be tested and refined in. For having been saved from our sins and judgment to come by the grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We more than likely will still have need for both maturity and endurance. And again these often only come through the various trials and tribulations that God permits to come our way, so that He might grow us up in our faith (consider Rom 5:1-5; James 1:2-4; 12), and as He does He will make us more fruitful along the way (John 15:2). And so rather than fighting against them, (as if they are the "enemy") we should look to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (who loves us even while were in them) to empower us in all joy through them.
Vs. 12 "giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."
If you study the Apostle Paul's life from the time of Christ's calling him to the end, you will see one thing that clearly marks it, and that is thanksgiving. In good times and bad, in prison, persecutions, perils, poverty, and everything else. The Apostle Paul never went to bed Spiritually hungry, because he always ate a continual feast of thanksgiving towards God (consider Prov 15:5). And so we also, as we journey homeward should likewise be giving thanks to God the Father in all things, for He has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. And so we also have a continual cause to be thankful to God our Father, because we also have an everlasting inheritance with Christ. Therefore in all things let us all be giving thanks and praise to God the Father in Jesus Christ's Name as the Scripture says (see Ps 69:30; Eph 5:20; Col 1:12; 3:17; Heb 13:15). For we who believe in Jesus also share in His life; both His joys, sufferings, and His sorrows (consider 2 Cor 1:5; Phil 3:10-11; 2 Tim 1:8; Heb 11:24-26; 1 Peter 4:13 etc.). For our lives and destinies are in separately wrapped up in Jesus Christ's. And so we who believe in Jesus Christ are continually by God's Spirit being moved in a forward direction, because it is always the future glory that lies ahead of us that keeps us pressing on towards the goal (consider Phil 3:12-14).
Now the Apostle Paul's use of light here is a metaphor for the Kingdom of heaven, which is not only a reality in our lives (Luke 17:21; Eph 5:8; 1 Thess 5:5), but light in the Scriptures always stands juxtaposed to the realm of darkness (consider Matt 4:16; Acts 26:18; 2 Cor 4:6; 2 Cor 6:14; 1 Peter 2:9). And so we are to always be giving thanks to God the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. For though we were all once disqualified from the Kingdom of heaven, because we were all once dead in our own sins and transgressions (Eph 2:1). Yet God has made us all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ qualified, because God through His Son Jesus first atoned our all sins, by Jesus death on a cross and shed blood at Calvary for them. Then God by His Holy Spirit made us alive together with Jesus Christ, who Himself is the firstborn from the dead having risen three days after His crucifixion death and burial. Then forty days later Jesus ascended back to heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Throne of God where we also are Spiritually seated with Him the moment we believe in Him (Acts 1:3; Eph 1:13-14; 2:4-9). Finally God has qualified us for the Kingdom of heaven by imputing Jesus' own righteousness to us all who believe in Him (consider 2 Cor 5:21; Col 2:13). And so no matter what, nothing, not even Satan himself can take us away from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and thus our inheritance with Him and all His saints (consider John 6:39; 10:27-30; 2 Cor 4:16-18). And so again we have a good cause for continually giving our praise and thanksgiving to Him because God the Father through His only begotten Son, has qualified us all to be to be "partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."
Vs. 13-14 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Having qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance in the saints in light. God has also delivered us from the power of darkness; that is from the power of sin, Satan and death and conveyed us (or transferred us, NKJ margin reading) into the Kingdom of the Son of His love (vs. 13). And so here the preeminence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through whom God accomplishes all these things for us takes precedence. For it is only through Jesus Christ's shed blood on our behalf that we have redemption from sin and death and forgiveness of all our sins (vs. 14, also see Eph 1:7). Now in case there was any misunderstanding about the Divine Preeminence of Jesus Christ, who is both the Son of Man and the Son of God, the Apostle Paul lays it all too rest here. And so he goes on to say of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." vs 15
Therefore in Jesus Christ we see the expressed image of the invisible God, who came in the form of a Man, to take the feudal headship of the first person God created, Adam, whom He appointed over His creation, yet who fell by transgression, and thus through Adam sin and death entered into all of God's created sphere, and so sin and death spread to all mankind, indeed all of creation. And that is why Jesus, God's Son became a Man so that He could both redeem believing mankind by His own Substitutionary human death on the cross for all our sins and transgressions (see Isaiah 53). But also Jesus became a Man so as to fulfill God's Scriptural promise of having a King and High Priest (i.e. Messiah or Christ) that will sit on and rule from the throne of David forever. Therefore in Jesus Christ God fulfills both. And so In Christ God took on flesh, the flesh of mortal man, so that He might not only redeem us from sin and death, but also (and this is critical to our understanding God's love for us) He did so, so that He could interact with us on a level that we could also perceive and interact with Him (consider 1 John 1:1-3). For consider if you will O.T. Job's frustration at not being able to do just that (Job 9:11; 23:8-9).
Vs. 15-16 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Now the Apostle Paul's declaring that Jesus is the firstborn over all of creation is not to be understood as if Jesus was a created person. It means in the context of Jewish thought that Jesus is the chosen heir; the One whom God the Father choose and appointed from everlasting to be the Heir and Ruler over all His creation. And so whatever God has created in all of creation, whether in heaven or on earth, all is subject to Jesus, and will be required to give an accounting of itself to Jesus, God's Son, the Heir and Judge of all created things (Psalm 96:13; Isaiah 2:4; 11:1-4; Matt 3:11-12; 19:28; 25:31-46; John 5:22; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom 2:16; Rom 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10-11; 2 Tim 4:1; Rev 11:18 etc.). For Jesus Christ is God from Everlasting (Isaiah 9:6). Now not only is Jesus the Heir of all of God's creation, whether things in heaven or on earth. It was for Jesus' sake that God created all things, so that Jesus Christ His Son would rule over them (Heb 2:8). "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him."
Vs. 17-18 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Jesus Christ then is not only the Heir of all things, He is also before all things, whether things in heaven or on earth. Jesus Christ is greater in significance, importance and power than all things. Whether thrones, principalities, or powers, or anything and everything else in all of God's created sphere, Jesus Christ exceedingly exceeds all. For God the Father has exalted His Son Jesus Christ from everlasting to the highest place of Preeminence. And so all are to honor Him just as they honor the Father, He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him (John 5:22-23). Now not only is Jesus Christ the One who is before all things, but He is the One through whom all things consist. Now the word translated consist here means "to bring together or hold together something in its proper or appropriate place or relationship—‘to hold together.’" Louw Nida 63.6 And so it is by Jesus Christ that not only all of creation is held together (see Heb 1:3), but we who believe in Him are being brought into, held onto, and preserved in a right relationship with God, as His Body of believers. For Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the Preeminence (vs. 18). Now the word translated head here has a duel meaning in this context; first is source and origin, then as ruler (also see 1 Cor 11:3). And so Jesus Christ is not only the Head of the Body, the church, the living organism held together by the Living Lord. But He was also the firstborn from dead. For Jesus Christ suffered death on the cross, once and for all for us all, so all that all who believe in Him will never die an everlasting death, but instead will rise to everlasting life on the last day (John 11:25). Therefore Jesus Christ having died once and for all, for all, was the first to rise from the dead (again to never die again) so that He could have the Preeminence in all things.
Therefore no-one or nothing is to ever be placed before Him, or as a means to Him, since Jesus Christ alone is our Lord (Acts 4:33; 20:21); Savior (Phil 3:20; 1 John 4:14); Redeemer (Gal 1:4; Titus 2:14); Teacher (Matt 23:7-10); High Priest (Heb 4:14-16; 5:4); Judge (Matt 25:31-46; Acts 10:42; 17:31); Ruler (Matt 2:6; Rev 1:5); and Keeper and Heir of all things (Heb 1:2). Who as the Apostle Paul says here in verse eighteen is the firstborn from the dead so that He may have the preeminence, amongst all who believe in Him, who will likewise rise from dead to everlasting life. For just as Jesus willingly laid down His life for us, so He also took it up again (John 10:18). And so just as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has risen from the dead to the glory of the Father, so shall we all who put our trust in Him also rise from the dead to everlasting life with Him on the last day (John 5:24-30; 6:39-40). I do not know where you are at today, but I hope in some way that this has helped too enlighten you to the immense Glory, Honor, and Majesty that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For to know Him by faith in His Person (to the exclusion of all others) is to be brought to Spiritual life and have remission of ones and have everlasting life (John 3:3-5; 16).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
Additional Resources Consulted
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
Louw Nida article num. 25.174
Louw Nida article num. 25.167
Louw Nida article num. 13.64
Louw Nida article num. 63.6
Vs 9-10 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
The Apostle Paul after encouraging the believers in Colosse by reminding them of our mutual inheritance in heaven (vs. 5), and the fruitfulness of the Gospel, which also bears fruit in our lives and in all the world (vs. 6), is now returning to his thankfulness for them. Which began when he first heard of their faith and love in Colosse from Epaphras (the man who first brought the gospel to them, vs. 7), and not only of their love for Paul and Timothy, but also for all the saints (that is all of God's people everywhere). Therefore Paul in seeking to encourage and strengthen them in their faith and love, says since the day he heard of their faith in Jesus Christ and love for all the saints, has not ceased to pray for them, praying that they may all be filled with the knowledge of Christ's will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (vs. 9). For it is in knowing and obeying the Lord's will that both the believer individually, and church collectively, grows strong and matures, and thus bears much wholesome fruit. And so in contrast to the false apostles, prophets and teachers who had crept into Colosse and were trying to entice the believers away from the Lord by expounding to them all kinds of so called secret "spiritual knowledge". The Apostle Paul here emphasizes that both true knowledge of God and Jesus Christ's will for us is found in and through His Word. For it is only through the Word of God that the whole person in spirit, soul and body is, and will be sanctified by God (see John 17:17, 19; Eph 5:26; 1 Thess 5:23).
And so the Apostles prayer is that they be filled with the knowledge of Jesus Christ's will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (vs. 9). For that is absolutely critical, not only in our own faith journeys as the Lord Jesus directs our lives individually as He wills, but also as He as Head of the Body directs us all collectively. And so we must individually and collectively in all wisdom and spiritual understanding always be striving to discern His Will for us. By listening prayfully to Him, while seeking out His will for us in His Word, so that we may know and do His will in our own lives, and in our churches. For when we know and do His will, this will not only bless us personally (for truly no Christian will feel satisfied in this life unless they are living in Jesus Christ's will for them), but also in obeying the Lord Jesus Christ we will become His blessing in the earth towards all. For truly by listening to His voice, the good fruits of His Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) will spill over out of our lives and assemblies and into our families and communities, as we trust and obey Him. And so Spiritual knowledge and understanding is always to be translating itself positively in us and through us, as we live/work out our faith down here. For as the Apostle Paul says, our acquiring spiritual knowledge of God and discerning His Will is so that we may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in knowledge of God (vs. 10). Thus there will be in our lives a reciprocal cycle of acquiring knowledge and understanding of Jesus' Person and Will for us, then of our living that truth out in our lives, both in the church and the world, and so we will acquire more knowledge and understanding of God as we do. For Bible study is not simply to study the Bible. Rather Bible study is to connect us personally and intimately with the heart and mind of God. And so when we let the Living Word take hold in our own hearts, minds, and lives. Then the Living Word will transform not only our own persons and lives, but it will have a positive impact on all those around us.
Therefore let us all who believe always be increasing in our knowledge of God (vs. 10). For it is by knowledge of God that one grows in their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and learns to walk worthy of Him, by living out and experiencing God's unchanging Scriptural truth in their life (consider John 8:31-22; Rom 12:2; 2 Tim 2:16-17; Heb 13:8; 1 Peter 1:25). For in doing so you will not only grow in your faith as you journey homeward, you will escape the ever rising flood of ungodliness of this world that Satan, the god of this age is propagating through all whom he has deceived and taken captive to do his will. For as it says in the Book of Hebrews: "...solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Heb 5:14
Vs. 11 "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;"
And so since we are commanded by our Lord and Savior to be doing good with our lives down here we are also by Jesus Christ's glorious power daily being "strengthened with all might for all patience, longsuffering and joy." Three things the Apostle Paul lists here and two of them have to do with our endurance in the faith, and one our joy. First the word translated patience, it basically means to have "the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances." Louw Nida In the NKJ in the N.T. it is variously rendered patience (Luke 21:19; Rom 15:4; Rev 2:2, 19); endurance (Heb 12:1) or perseverance (Rom 8:25; 2 Tim 3:10). All which is a prerequisite too our bearing fruit through the Word of God (consider Luke 8:15). And so we are too pursue this (1 Tim 6:11; 2 Peter 1:6) just as
God also works this attribute in our lives through the various trials, tribulations, and disconcerting things that we must pass through in this life (consider Rom 5:3; James 1:3; 5:11). For it is by patient continuance in doing good (often in the face of provocation) that one continues to demonstrate their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (consider Rom 2:7; 2 Cor 6:4). Therefore we are not only being empowered by Jesus Christ to live as His disciples, we are also by His resurrection power being sustained by Him, in all longsuffering and joy even though there are many spiritual forces of wickedness that war against our being so. Now the word translated longsuffering is a fruit of Spirit (see Gal 5:22) and it means
to have "a state of emotional calm in the face of provocation or misfortune and without complaint or irritation—‘patience.’' Louw Nida It is the ability to bear up or endure in patience the stresses of living a Godly life which always brings with it it's own opposition (consider 2 Tim 3:12). And so we are Divinely empowered by God through His Spirit for that very purpose. For again though there are many forces at work in this world which seek to undermine and overthrow a believers faith and confidence In Christ we have a default state given us by God to help maintain our composure so that we need not fret or despair when the difficulties arise and our troublers come (consider Psalm 37).
Now we can forsake that default state and return to our old natures ways, and thus grieve the Holy Spirit when we do (consider Eph 4:29-31). Or we can allow ourselves to be transformed by the various trials and tribulations that God permits in our lives, so that we might more and more bear the true nature of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in our own persons and lives, which is patience and longsuffering in joy (consider Heb 6:12). For again Christian growth and fruitfulness never comes through ease of life, but by patience and endurance and joy through our trials of life. For we all have our own unique areas that we will need to be tested and refined in. For having been saved from our sins and judgment to come by the grace of God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We more than likely will still have need for both maturity and endurance. And again these often only come through the various trials and tribulations that God permits to come our way, so that He might grow us up in our faith (consider Rom 5:1-5; James 1:2-4; 12), and as He does He will make us more fruitful along the way (John 15:2). And so rather than fighting against them, (as if they are the "enemy") we should look to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (who loves us even while were in them) to empower us in all joy through them.
Vs. 12 "giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."
If you study the Apostle Paul's life from the time of Christ's calling him to the end, you will see one thing that clearly marks it, and that is thanksgiving. In good times and bad, in prison, persecutions, perils, poverty, and everything else. The Apostle Paul never went to bed Spiritually hungry, because he always ate a continual feast of thanksgiving towards God (consider Prov 15:5). And so we also, as we journey homeward should likewise be giving thanks to God the Father in all things, for He has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. And so we also have a continual cause to be thankful to God our Father, because we also have an everlasting inheritance with Christ. Therefore in all things let us all be giving thanks and praise to God the Father in Jesus Christ's Name as the Scripture says (see Ps 69:30; Eph 5:20; Col 1:12; 3:17; Heb 13:15). For we who believe in Jesus also share in His life; both His joys, sufferings, and His sorrows (consider 2 Cor 1:5; Phil 3:10-11; 2 Tim 1:8; Heb 11:24-26; 1 Peter 4:13 etc.). For our lives and destinies are in separately wrapped up in Jesus Christ's. And so we who believe in Jesus Christ are continually by God's Spirit being moved in a forward direction, because it is always the future glory that lies ahead of us that keeps us pressing on towards the goal (consider Phil 3:12-14).
Now the Apostle Paul's use of light here is a metaphor for the Kingdom of heaven, which is not only a reality in our lives (Luke 17:21; Eph 5:8; 1 Thess 5:5), but light in the Scriptures always stands juxtaposed to the realm of darkness (consider Matt 4:16; Acts 26:18; 2 Cor 4:6; 2 Cor 6:14; 1 Peter 2:9). And so we are to always be giving thanks to God the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. For though we were all once disqualified from the Kingdom of heaven, because we were all once dead in our own sins and transgressions (Eph 2:1). Yet God has made us all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ qualified, because God through His Son Jesus first atoned our all sins, by Jesus death on a cross and shed blood at Calvary for them. Then God by His Holy Spirit made us alive together with Jesus Christ, who Himself is the firstborn from the dead having risen three days after His crucifixion death and burial. Then forty days later Jesus ascended back to heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Throne of God where we also are Spiritually seated with Him the moment we believe in Him (Acts 1:3; Eph 1:13-14; 2:4-9). Finally God has qualified us for the Kingdom of heaven by imputing Jesus' own righteousness to us all who believe in Him (consider 2 Cor 5:21; Col 2:13). And so no matter what, nothing, not even Satan himself can take us away from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and thus our inheritance with Him and all His saints (consider John 6:39; 10:27-30; 2 Cor 4:16-18). And so again we have a good cause for continually giving our praise and thanksgiving to Him because God the Father through His only begotten Son, has qualified us all to be to be "partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light."
Vs. 13-14 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
Having qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance in the saints in light. God has also delivered us from the power of darkness; that is from the power of sin, Satan and death and conveyed us (or transferred us, NKJ margin reading) into the Kingdom of the Son of His love (vs. 13). And so here the preeminence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through whom God accomplishes all these things for us takes precedence. For it is only through Jesus Christ's shed blood on our behalf that we have redemption from sin and death and forgiveness of all our sins (vs. 14, also see Eph 1:7). Now in case there was any misunderstanding about the Divine Preeminence of Jesus Christ, who is both the Son of Man and the Son of God, the Apostle Paul lays it all too rest here. And so he goes on to say of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." vs 15
Therefore in Jesus Christ we see the expressed image of the invisible God, who came in the form of a Man, to take the feudal headship of the first person God created, Adam, whom He appointed over His creation, yet who fell by transgression, and thus through Adam sin and death entered into all of God's created sphere, and so sin and death spread to all mankind, indeed all of creation. And that is why Jesus, God's Son became a Man so that He could both redeem believing mankind by His own Substitutionary human death on the cross for all our sins and transgressions (see Isaiah 53). But also Jesus became a Man so as to fulfill God's Scriptural promise of having a King and High Priest (i.e. Messiah or Christ) that will sit on and rule from the throne of David forever. Therefore in Jesus Christ God fulfills both. And so In Christ God took on flesh, the flesh of mortal man, so that He might not only redeem us from sin and death, but also (and this is critical to our understanding God's love for us) He did so, so that He could interact with us on a level that we could also perceive and interact with Him (consider 1 John 1:1-3). For consider if you will O.T. Job's frustration at not being able to do just that (Job 9:11; 23:8-9).
Vs. 15-16 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Now the Apostle Paul's declaring that Jesus is the firstborn over all of creation is not to be understood as if Jesus was a created person. It means in the context of Jewish thought that Jesus is the chosen heir; the One whom God the Father choose and appointed from everlasting to be the Heir and Ruler over all His creation. And so whatever God has created in all of creation, whether in heaven or on earth, all is subject to Jesus, and will be required to give an accounting of itself to Jesus, God's Son, the Heir and Judge of all created things (Psalm 96:13; Isaiah 2:4; 11:1-4; Matt 3:11-12; 19:28; 25:31-46; John 5:22; Acts 10:42; 17:31; Rom 2:16; Rom 14:10; 2 Cor 5:10-11; 2 Tim 4:1; Rev 11:18 etc.). For Jesus Christ is God from Everlasting (Isaiah 9:6). Now not only is Jesus the Heir of all of God's creation, whether things in heaven or on earth. It was for Jesus' sake that God created all things, so that Jesus Christ His Son would rule over them (Heb 2:8). "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him."
Vs. 17-18 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
Jesus Christ then is not only the Heir of all things, He is also before all things, whether things in heaven or on earth. Jesus Christ is greater in significance, importance and power than all things. Whether thrones, principalities, or powers, or anything and everything else in all of God's created sphere, Jesus Christ exceedingly exceeds all. For God the Father has exalted His Son Jesus Christ from everlasting to the highest place of Preeminence. And so all are to honor Him just as they honor the Father, He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him (John 5:22-23). Now not only is Jesus Christ the One who is before all things, but He is the One through whom all things consist. Now the word translated consist here means "to bring together or hold together something in its proper or appropriate place or relationship—‘to hold together.’" Louw Nida 63.6 And so it is by Jesus Christ that not only all of creation is held together (see Heb 1:3), but we who believe in Him are being brought into, held onto, and preserved in a right relationship with God, as His Body of believers. For Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the Preeminence (vs. 18). Now the word translated head here has a duel meaning in this context; first is source and origin, then as ruler (also see 1 Cor 11:3). And so Jesus Christ is not only the Head of the Body, the church, the living organism held together by the Living Lord. But He was also the firstborn from dead. For Jesus Christ suffered death on the cross, once and for all for us all, so all that all who believe in Him will never die an everlasting death, but instead will rise to everlasting life on the last day (John 11:25). Therefore Jesus Christ having died once and for all, for all, was the first to rise from the dead (again to never die again) so that He could have the Preeminence in all things.
Therefore no-one or nothing is to ever be placed before Him, or as a means to Him, since Jesus Christ alone is our Lord (Acts 4:33; 20:21); Savior (Phil 3:20; 1 John 4:14); Redeemer (Gal 1:4; Titus 2:14); Teacher (Matt 23:7-10); High Priest (Heb 4:14-16; 5:4); Judge (Matt 25:31-46; Acts 10:42; 17:31); Ruler (Matt 2:6; Rev 1:5); and Keeper and Heir of all things (Heb 1:2). Who as the Apostle Paul says here in verse eighteen is the firstborn from the dead so that He may have the preeminence, amongst all who believe in Him, who will likewise rise from dead to everlasting life. For just as Jesus willingly laid down His life for us, so He also took it up again (John 10:18). And so just as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has risen from the dead to the glory of the Father, so shall we all who put our trust in Him also rise from the dead to everlasting life with Him on the last day (John 5:24-30; 6:39-40). I do not know where you are at today, but I hope in some way that this has helped too enlighten you to the immense Glory, Honor, and Majesty that is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For to know Him by faith in His Person (to the exclusion of all others) is to be brought to Spiritual life and have remission of ones and have everlasting life (John 3:3-5; 16).
Scripture Quotations
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982
Additional Resources Consulted
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
Louw Nida article num. 25.174
Louw Nida article num. 25.167
Louw Nida article num. 13.64
Louw Nida article num. 63.6
