Colossians 1:15

Translations

Modern

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Traditional

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

Literal

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation,

Latin

…qui est imago Dei invisibilis, primogenitus omnis creaturæ:

Original

Greek

English

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Notes

Colossians 1:15

the image: In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, eikōn means "image" or "representation." It describes humans as made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27). It also refers to the wisdom figure in Jewish writings (see Wisdom of Solomon 7:25–26). New Testament writers describe Christ as "the wisdom of God" to explain his importance (compare 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30).
the firstborn over all creation: This phrase was important in early Christian debates about Christ's nature. Firstborn does not mean God created him. It is a title from the Old Testament, showing supremacy in rank and priority in time (see, for example, Psalm 89:27).

Colossians 1:15–20

Paul describes Jesus as the ultimate creator and redeemer (1:15–17; 1:18–20). Three main things suggest these verses quote an early Christian hymn about Jesus:

These verses are brief statements.
These verses have contain high praise and special honor for Christ (he is exalted).
These verses use similar language and ideas.

Paul applied this hymn to the situation of the church in Colossae.

Theme notes and profiles

Paul (Saul) God’s Unified Plan of Salvation Human Confusion and God’s Purpose Living for Christ The Christ Hymn: Christ’s Divine Nature The Creation The Message of Reconciliation The Sovereignty of God The Unknown God

Related verses

Hebrews 1:3
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
John 14:9
Jesus replied, “Philip, I have been with you all this time, and still you do not know Me? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 Corinthians 4:4
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
John 1:18
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Psalm 89:27
I will indeed appoint him as My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:6
Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
1 Timothy 1:17
Now to the King eternal, immortal, and invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
Hebrews 1:6
And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”

Colossians 1:15

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