Colossians 1:15-20
Two of Jesus’ disciples were walking along the road to Emmaus, puzzled and grieved over His death at Jerusalem. As they journeyed, a third person joined them and questioned them about their conversation and their obvious sadness. The two men were shocked that this Man apparently did not know about the weekend events in Jerusalem, so they began explaining to Him what had happened. Though they did not yet know that the Person with them was the resurrected Christ, He began explaining to them how all the scripture points to Him.
25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. (Luke 24:25-27)
An Ethiopian was journeying back from Jerusalem to his home country and reading from the book of Isaiah, chapter 53. God arranged for Philip to join him and when the Ethiopian expressed to him that he didn’t understand the text’s meaning, Philip started at that place and showed him how it pointed to Jesus.
30 So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The place in the Scripture which he read was this: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; And as a lamb before its shearer is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 33 In His humiliation His justice was taken away, And who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.” 34 So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him. (Acts 8:30-35)
The point is this...no matter where you start reading in the Bible, Jesus is the overarching theme. He is the subject matter behind every story line (the outworking of God’s redemptive plan) and the fulfillment of all the OT types, symbols and pictures. If you read the Bible and don’t end up at Jesus’ feet...you’ve misread the Bible.
In a similar fashion, after Paul’s greeting, prayer and thanksgiving to God for the Colossian believers, he immediately focused all their attention on the person of Christ.
These six verses (1:15-20) were to the early church a hymn of confession concerning the divinity and preeminence of Jesus. Dr. S. Lewis Johnson says that this section of scripture “has often been called, ‘The Great Christology.’” In it are four specific titles for Christ around which this hymn/confession is formed. This text is vitally important because the Colossians were hearing heretical views about the person of Christ. These erroneous views diminished the incomparable Christ and could have potentially confused the Colossian believers. On this occasion, we can be thankful for doctrinal heresy because it brought to us one of the greatest NT treatises of the person of Christ.
This hymn/confession is broken into two sections dealing with Christ Who is preeminent in creation (15-17) and in the church (18-20). While this hymn/confession does not have the usual rhythm and rhyme familiar in our music, it nevertheless has words and phrases that run parallel to each other indicating the confessional nature of them.
- It’s possible that this hymn/confession is structured in this way: 1st verse: 1:15-16; transition: 1:17; 2nd verse: 1:18-19.
- “He is...who is” (same Greek construction) -- vs. 15b & 18b
- “firstborn” -- vs. 15 & 18
- “all things” [τὰ πάντα] runs throughout the hymn/confession -- vs. 16, 17, 20 (the other two times you find “all things” in these verses, 17a, 18b, the Greek construction is slightly different.)
What are the titles Paul gave to Christ?
1. Jesus is the “image of the invisible God.” (1:15a)
The Greek word is εἰκών, from which we get our word icon.
It is properly defined as “an object shaped to resemble the form or appearance of something, likeness, portrait...of the emperor’s head on a coin…” (BDAG)
“An object (not necessarily three dimensional) which has been formed to resemble a person, god, animal, etc.—‘likeness, image...’” (Louw Nida 6.96)
Illustration of likenesses familiar to us today:
- $100 bill - Benjamin Franklin. Not a President, but He was one of the Founding Fathers and the first United States Postmaster General.
- $50 bill - Ulysses S. Grant
- $20 bill - Andrew Jackson
- $10 bill - Alexander Hamilton. Not a President, but first United States Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers.
- $5 bill - Abraham Lincoln
- $1 bill - George Washington
In the LXX version of the OT book of Daniel, the statue of Nebuchadnezzar is called an εἰκών (cf. Daniel 2:31-3:18 LXX). John uses this word in The Revelation to refer to the “image” and “mark” of the beast (eg. Revelation 13:14-15; 14:9-11).
There are two significant ideas that are indicated by this word: (1) representation, and (2) manifestation.
However, in this context the “image” in Colossians 1:15 is more than just a representation of God (Who is the archetype). This “image,” Who is Jesus, is the perfect manifestation/revelation of God, Who is described as being “invisible.” Jesus is the full embodiment of the “invisible God.” Jesus IS God!
In the OT there were several Christophanies (preincarnate appearances of Jesus - ex. Genesis 16:7-14; Genesis 22:11-18; Judges 5:23; 2 Kings 19:35; etc.), but in Jesus’ incarnation the complete manifestation of the person of God is revealed to man. Listen to how Jesus addressed Philip when he asked to see the Father.
7 “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” 8 Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” 9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? (John 14:7-9)
Let’s be reminded that Jesus doesn’t just resemble God, He is the perfect manifestation of God! Neither does this text say that Jesus “became” the “image of God.” It says, “He IS” (present tense indicating a state of being - eternally) the “image of God.” This aspect alone demonstrates His deity...His equality with the Father.
This is exactly the same thing John declared in the opening chapter of his Gospel.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God...14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth...18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:1-2, 14, 18)
On the Mount of Transfiguration the real identity of Jesus shown through His flesh for just a moment and three of His disciples saw it. Is it any wonder that when these disciples suggested they build three “shelters” (for Jesus, Moses and Elijah) that God the Father spoke from Heaven and said...“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Luke 17:5) There is no other one like Him! He alone is the perfect “image of the invisible God.”
And, if there were any questions left as to the true identity of the person of Christ, Paul slammed the door shut on them when he declared that “in Him all the fullness should dwell.” (1:19) In other words, all of the attributes/deity of God are disclosed in the person of Jesus Christ.
What’s the meaning of all this to us? Dr. F.F. Bruce says, “Few exercises can so effectively promote the spirit of unity as joint celebration of the person and work of Christ.”
2. Jesus is “the firstborn over creation.” (1:15b)
Twice Jesus is said to be the “firstborn.” Once over the “old” creation (1:15b) and once over the new creation (1:18)...the church.
- There is a literal sense to the word “firstborn.” When Mary gave birth to Jesus He was called her “firstborn Son” (Luke 2:7).
- There is also a figurative sense to the word. In Exodus 4:22, God speaks of Israel as His “firstborn,” even though an actual birth hadn’t taken place.
- Finally, there is a sovereign sense to the word. In Psalm 89:27, God says He will make David, His “firstborn,” to be greater than all the kings of the earth, even though he was the last-born son of Jesse. God sovereignly gave David the special place of supremacy, superiority and primacy over all other early kings. It’s in this last sense that Paul uses the word about Christ. This title for Christ emphasizes His dominion, superiority and sovereignty over all creation, as well as His preexistence before every aspect of creation.
In Near Eastern culture the “firstborn” son was entitled to a double inheritance and the leadership of the family was transferred to him when the father died. Over time the concept of supremacy overshadowed that of priority in birth order, as Exodus 4:22 and Psalm 89:27 indicate (notes above).
John the Baptist knew what it meant for Jesus to be the “firstborn.” He said about Jesus:
30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me [that’s superiority], for He was before me [that’s chronology].’ (John 1:30) It’s in the first sense of John the Baptist that we should understand the term “firstborn.”
One author writes that Christ is “superior in moral splendor, superior in saving power, superior in practical guidance, superior in transforming influence, superior in gracious friendship.” And, we can add that He is superior and sovereign over ALL things!
Some false cults use this term (“firstborn”) to say that Christ is part of creation, not separate from it and before it. They teach that Jesus was a created being, just as mankind was created. But, this is an impossible interpretation of this word for at least four reasons:
- This is an unsustainable position in light of the fact that the text says that Jesus created all things (v.16), which would mean that He had to create Himself.
- This is an unsustainable position in light of the fact that He existed “before all things.” (v.17) He can’t be part of creation and “before” it, at the same time.
- The overall teaching of the NT makes this an unsustainable position because it testifies to Christ’s role in all creation. (ex. John 1:3)
- While it is possible for the term “firstborn” to refer to “first in time,” the context of Colossians makes this an unsustainable position because this text isn’t about who/what came first, but about Who is supreme, sovereign and preeminent (v. 18).
There is also a grammatical reason this can’t indicate that Jesus was One (or the first) of God’s creations, as explained by Dr. F.F. Bruce. He translates the phrase “firstborn over all creation” as, “Firstborn before all creation” in order to “...clarify the force of the genitive phrase ‘of all creation.’” He continues, “To construe the wording as though He Himself were the first of all created beings is to run counter to the context, which insists that He is the One by whom the whole creation came into existence.” (Bibliotheca Sacra, April-June 1984, p 99-111)
Conclusion:
Why the emphasis on these titles for Christ in the book of Colossians? Because, in the words of Dr. F.F. Bruce, “The doctrine of Christ was the principal truth threatened by the false teaching at Colossae...”
Dr. William MacDonald says, “Gnostic heretics taught that Christ was a kind of ‘halfway house’ to God, a necessary link in the chain. But there were other, better links on ahead. ‘Go on from Him,’ they urged, ‘and you will reach the fullness.’ ‘No,’ Paul answers, ‘Christ is Himself the complete fullness!’”
To say it another way, they were attempting to diminish the supremacy and preeminence of Christ in creation and in His church. That’s why Paul states the principle in 1:18, “that in all things He may have the preeminence.” We should never tolerate any teaching or lifestyle that diminishes in some way our incomparable Christ and fails to give Him His rightful place of Lordship.
The world system is constantly trying to push us into it’s mold that will increasingly cause us to diminish the incomparable Christ in our lives.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)
The Greek word translated “conformed” means “to form or mold one’s behavior in accordance with a particular pattern or set of standards—‘to shape one’s behavior, to conform one’s life.’” (Louw Nida 4129)
The world system, philosophy and ideals are relentlessly pursuing our hearts to “conform” us to it’s image and to diminish the incomparable Christ in our life. These things pressure us for our undivided attention and absolute loyalty. They want, above all else, to have the preeminence in our lives instead of Christ. This is why texts like Colossians 1:15-20 are so important. They remind us of our place in this world and that His place is first place in everything.
This specific Greek word for “preeminence” is found only in this passage, but a compound form of the word is used of Diotrephes who loved “to have the preeminence” in his church. (3 John 9)
The word literally means “to hold the highest rank in a group, be first, have first place.”
(BDAG)
Jesus is not to take second place in any arena of life, whether in His creation or His church. He is to be the priority above all priorities and nothing should be allowed to supplant His dominion and supremacy. Anything that takes Christ’s priority or diminishes His preeminence defames the incomparable Christ and turns us into idolaters.
Dr. R. Kent Hughes maked a series of statements in his book on Colossians (Hughes, R. Kent, Colossians and Philemon, p. 34) after discussing the preeminence of Christ. I want to take some of his statements (and a couple of my own) and turn them into penetrating questions for us to consider.
- Is Christ first place in your family?
- Is Christ first place in your marriage?
- Is Christ first place in your work?
- Is Christ first place in your service to Him and His church?
- Is Christ first place in your intellectual pursuits?
- Is Christ first place in your expenditures and stewardship?
- Is Christ first place in your free time?
- Is Christ first place in your love for Him?
- Is Christ first place in your conversations?
- Is Christ first place in your pleasures?
- Is Christ first place in your athletic interests (even with your children)?
- Is Christ first place in what you watch?
- Is Christ first place in your use of the Internet?
- Is Christ first place on the Lord’s Day?
- Is Christ first place in your worship?
Christ won’t settle for anything less than first place in every aspect of our lives and we have to constantly evaluate what’s going on with us in order to ever sharpen our focus on His preeminence.
