Colossians 1:17 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

NIV: He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

NASB: He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

CSB: He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.

NLT: He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.

KJV: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

NKJV: And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

Paul adds to his praise of Christ, which began in verse 15. Here, he explains that Jesus existed prior to all other things. He is eternal, just like God the Father (John 1:1–3). In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). God the Father, Son, and Spirit (Genesis 1:2–3) were all involved in creation. Paul speaks elsewhere of Jesus creating people (Ephesians 2:10), while Hebrews 1:2 speaks of the creation coming through Christ.

Not only is Jesus—God—responsible for creating all things, He is also the reason all things continue to exist. The Greek construction of this verse can also be translated as "all things continue" or "endure." Jesus is both creator and sustainer of our world. In one sense, verse 17 summarizes Paul's words in the previous two verses on this theme of the supremacy of Christ. This theme is echoed not only by Paul's other letters, but by other New Testament authors, such as John.

Colossians 1:15–23 is an extensive praise of Jesus Christ. In this passage, Paul explains that Jesus is eternal, just as God is eternal, and all created things were created by Him, and through Him, and for Him. After describing Jesus as absolutely supreme, Paul then explains that it was His sacrifice which allowed the Colossians—and all saved believers—to be reconciled to God.

In chapter 1, Paul introduces himself, along with his co-author Timothy. As he often does, Paul gives thanks for what he hears about the faith of the believers in Colossae. Paul includes a prayer for their growth and spiritual strength. The letter then transitions to praise of Jesus, describing Him as absolutely supreme. All created things were made through, by, and for Him. And, since it was His sacrifice which saved us from sin, we can have confidence in our eternal destiny.

Colossians chapter 1 is mostly focused on describing Christ as supreme. Jesus is not only the God of creation, He is the ultimate authority over all created things. The penalty for sin has been completely removed because of His perfect sacrifice. These are foundational ideas which Paul will use to set up his later points. In chapters 2, 3, and 4, Paul will explain why contrary claims are untrue, and show the right way for Christians to live out what we believe about Jesus.

The book of Colossians describes Christ as superior to all other teachers, faiths, and philosophies. In this letter, written from prison, Paul once again tackles false teachings. Among these errors are claims that Christians need to give up all physical enjoyments, that they should worship angels, and that they need to rely on the wisdom of an elite few. These problems are consistent with an ancient heresy known as Gnosticism. In response, Paul explains that Christ is supreme, and sufficient for our salvation.

Accessed 5/2/2024 5:26:56 AM