Colossians 1:17

Translations

Modern

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

Traditional

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

Literal

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

Latin

…et ipse est ante omnes, et omnia in ipso constant.

Original

Greek

English

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

Notes

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.
1 Corinthians 8:6
…yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.
John 17:5
And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world existed.
John 8:58
“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
Acts 17:28
‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’
John 1:1–3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Colossians 1:15
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Revelation 1:8
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.
Psalm 75:3
When the earth and all its dwellers quake, it is I who bear up its pillars. Selah
Isaiah 44:6
Thus says the LORD, the King and Redeemer of Israel, the LORD of Hosts: “I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God but Me.
Proverbs 8:22–23
The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old.
Revelation 1:17
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. But He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last,

Colossians 1:17

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Parallels?

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Related verses

Parallels

Glossary

Topics