What does Colossians 1:18 mean?
In addition to Jesus being creator and sustainer of all things (Colossians 1:17), all believers are under Christ's authority and leadership (Colossians 1:18). Paul often refers to believers or the church as a body (1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:16; 5:23). The term "head" carries both a functional and symbolic meaning. In either case the "head" is the source of decision-making, authority, and control. Christ is meant to be the source of our faith, and our lives should reflect His commands.Paul adds two additional qualities about Christ in this verse. First, He calls Jesus "the beginning." This is most likely a reference to His role in creation (Genesis 1—2). In fact, in Hebrew, the book of Genesis is called Bereshith, which is the first word of the text, and literally means "The Beginning." Second, Paul refers to Jesus as "the firstborn from the dead," a reference to His resurrection. Because Jesus rose from the dead, He is to be "preeminent." The Greek wording in this last phrase emphasizes Jesus as supreme in all things.