Colossians 1:18 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

NIV: And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

NASB: He is also the 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.

CSB: He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything.

NLT: Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.

KJV: And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

NKJV: 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.

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.

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.