15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation — [1:16] because in Him all things were created, things in the heavens and things upon the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and unto Him. [1:17] And He Himself is before all things, and all things in Him have held together. [1:18] And He Himself is the head of the body, the church — who is the beginning, the firstborn out from the dead, so that in all things He Himself may be holding preeminence — [1:19] because in Him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, [1:20] and through Him to reconcile all things unto Himself — having made peace through the blood of His cross, through Him — whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens. [1:21] And you, once being alienated and hostile in mind in evil deeds, [1:22] but now you are reconciled in the body of His flesh through His death, to present you holy and unblemished and blameless before Him — [1:23] if indeed you continue in the faith, established and firm and not being moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which having been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I myself, Paul, became a minister.
COL 1:15-23
The Supremacy of the Son
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of (eikōn) carried significant weight, often referring to statues or images that represented divine or imperial authority. For Jewish listeners, the idea of an image of the invisible God would evoke Genesis 1:26-27, where humanity is created in God’s image, but here it is elevated to describe Christ as the perfect representation of God’s essence. The term (prōtotokos) would resonate with Jewish audiences familiar with the honorific title given to Israel (Exodus 4:22) or the Davidic king (Psalm 89:27), but here it is expanded to assert Christ’s supremacy over all creation. The mention of thrones, dominions, rulers, and authorities (, exousiai) reflects the widespread belief in spiritual powers governing the cosmos, a concern in both Jewish apocalyptic thought and Greco-Roman cosmology. The claim that all things were created through and for Christ and that He holds them together would challenge both Stoic notions of a self-sustaining universe and Jewish ideas of God’s direct governance. This passage positions Christ as the ultimate reconciler, addressing the alienation between humanity and God, a theme deeply relevant in a world marked by social, ethnic, and religious divisions.
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How other translations render this
COL 1:15
- KJV
- Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
- BSB
- The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
- Koinōnos
- He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation —
COL 1:16
- KJV
- For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
- BSB
- For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.
- Koinōnos
- because in Him all things were created, things in the heavens and things upon the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and unto Him.
COL 1:17
- KJV
- And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
- BSB
- He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
- Koinōnos
- And He Himself is before all things, and all things in Him have held together.
COL 1:18
- 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.
- BSB
- And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
- Koinōnos
- And He Himself is the head of the body, the church — who is the beginning, the firstborn out from the dead, so that in all things He Himself may be holding preeminence —
COL 1:19
- KJV
- For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
- BSB
- For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,
- Koinōnos
- because in Him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
COL 1:20
- KJV
- And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
- BSB
- and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.
- Koinōnos
- and through Him to reconcile all things unto Himself — having made peace through the blood of His cross, through Him — whether the things on the earth or the things in the heavens.
COL 1:21
- KJV
- And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
- BSB
- Once you were alienated from God and were hostile in your minds, engaging in evil deeds.
- Koinōnos
- And you, once being alienated and hostile in mind in evil deeds,
COL 1:22
- KJV
- In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
- BSB
- But now He has reconciled you by Christʼs physical body through death to present you holy, unblemished, and blameless in His presence—
- Koinōnos
- but now you are reconciled in the body of His flesh through His death, to present you holy and unblemished and blameless before Him —
COL 1:23
- KJV
- If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
- BSB
- if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
- Koinōnos
- if indeed you continue in the faith, established and firm and not being moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which having been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, of which I myself, Paul, became a minister.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
COL 1:15
- [the] image:The word translated 'image' here refers to a true representation or likeness, not merely a copy. It implies that the image shares the very essence and characteristics of what it represents.
- [the] firstborn:The term 'firstborn' in this context carries the sense of preeminence and supreme status, not just the order of birth. It denotes a position of honor and authority.
COL 1:16
- rulers:The word translated 'rulers' here refers to those holding legitimate authority or power, often with a sense of jurisdiction or control. It can encompass various forms of governing power.
COL 1:19
- fullness:The word translated 'fullness' refers to that which fills something completely, making it whole or complete. It can also imply the sum total or the complete measure of something.