The Supremacy of Christ and Reconciliation
Colossians 1:15-23
Col.1.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εικων: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αορατου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- πρωτοτοκος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- πασης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
- κτισεως: NOUN,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Hebrews 1:3 (verbal): Describes the Son as the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation/character of his being (Greek uses language equivalent to 'image' or 'exact imprint'), paralleling Colossians' 'image of the invisible God.'
- 2 Corinthians 4:4 (verbal): Refers to Christ as 'the image of God' (ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ), repeating the same substantive title and stressing Christ's role as God's visible manifestation.
- John 14:9 (thematic): Jesus' claim 'Whoever has seen me has seen the Father' thematically echoes Colossians' assertion that Christ is the visible image/revelation of the invisible God.
- John 1:18 (thematic): Speaks of the unique revealer of the Father (μονογενῆ/μονογενὴς θεός/υἱός), linking to Colossians' emphasis that the Son makes the invisible God known in visible form.
- Romans 8:29 (thematic): Uses the title 'firstborn' (πρωτότοκος) of Christ—here in the context of preeminence among those conformed to his image—connecting to Colossians' 'firstborn of all creation' language about Christ's priority and supremacy.
Alternative generated candidates
- He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
- He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Col.1.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εκτισθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- ουρανοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- ορατα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- αορατα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- ειτε: CONJ
- θρονοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ειτε: CONJ
- κυριοτητες: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- ειτε: CONJ
- αρχαι: NOUN,nom,pl,f
- ειτε: CONJ
- εξουσιαι·τα: NOUN,nom,pl,f+ART,nom,pl,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- δι᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- εις: PREP
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- εκτισται·: VERB,perf,pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- John 1:3 (verbal): Both assert that all things were made through the Son/Word — identical language of universal creation by Christ ("all things were made through him").
- Hebrews 1:2 (verbal): Speaks of the Son as the agent through whom God made the worlds/ages, paralleling Colossians' claim of Christ’s role in creation and sovereignty over all things.
- Romans 11:36 (verbal): Shares the triadic idea of origin, agency, and purpose—"from him and through him and to him are all things"—echoing Colossians' emphasis that all things are by him and for him.
- Revelation 4:11 (thematic): Declares that God created all things and that they exist for his purpose, paralleling Colossians' assertion that all things were created by and for Christ (creator and final end).
Alternative generated candidates
- For in him all things were created—things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things were created through him and for him.
- For in him all things were created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
Col.1.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- προ: PREP
- παντων: ADJ,gen,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- συνεστηκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Colossians 1:16 (verbal): Immediate context: asserts the same cosmic role—'by him all things were created'—linking Christ's preeminence with the creation of all things.
- Hebrews 1:3 (verbal): Directly parallels the sustaining idea—Christ 'upholds the universe by the word of his power,' echoing 'in him all things hold together.'
- John 1:3-4 (thematic): The Prologue presents the Logos as the agent of creation ('All things were made through him') and the source of life, resonating with Christ's priority and cosmic unity in Colossians.
- Romans 11:36 (thematic): Uses comprehensive language about origins and purpose—'from him and through him and to him are all things'—similarly universalizing Christ/God's sovereignty over all things.
- Ephesians 1:22-23 (thematic): Speaks of Christ's headship and the church as 'his body' which he 'fills'—echoing the motif of Christ's cosmic authority and his role in holding/filling all things.
Alternative generated candidates
- He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
- And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Col.1.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- κεφαλη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- σωματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- εκκλησιας·ος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- αρχη: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- πρωτοτοκος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- νεκρων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- ινα: CONJ
- γενηται: VERB,fut,mid,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- πασιν: ADJ,dat,pl,m
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- πρωτευων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- Eph.1.22-23 (verbal): Speaks of God placing all things under Christ and making him 'head over [all things] to the church, which is his body,' echoing the language of Christ as the head of the body (the church) and his preeminence.
- Rev.1.5 (verbal): Explicitly calls Jesus 'the firstborn from the dead,' using the same title as Colossians 1:18 to affirm his priority in the resurrection.
- 1 Cor.15.20-23 (thematic): Describes Christ as the firstfruits/first in the resurrection and the ordering of those who belong to him, thematically paralleling 'firstborn from the dead' and the resurrection precedence of Christ.
- Col.1.15 (verbal): Earlier in the same chapter Christ is called the 'firstborn of all creation,' using the 'firstborn' motif to express his priority and preeminence—an intra-textual parallel within Colossians.
Alternative generated candidates
- He is also the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that he might have first place in everything.
- And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might have the preeminence.
Col.1.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ευδοκησεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- παν: ADJ,nom,sg,n
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- πληρωμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- κατοικησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
Parallels
- Colossians 2:9 (verbal): Nearly identical claim: 'For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily' — repeats the idea that all divine fullness resides in Christ.
- John 1:16 (verbal): Speaks of believers receiving 'from his fullness' (ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν) — links the Son with a fullness that is the source of grace.
- Ephesians 3:19 (thematic): Paul prays that believers 'may be filled with all the fullness of God' — echoes the language and theology of divine fullness pertaining to Christ and the church.
- Hebrews 1:3 (thematic): Describes the Son as the radiance and exact imprint of God's nature, sustaining creation — thematically affirms that the divine being and presence are fully manifested in the Son.
Alternative generated candidates
- For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
- For it pleased the Father that all the fullness should dwell in him,
Col.1.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- δι᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
- αποκαταλλαξαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
- εις: PREP
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- ειρηνοποιησας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- δια: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αιματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- σταυρου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- δι᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,m
- ειτε: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- επι: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- γης: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ειτε: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- ουρανοις·: NOUN,dat,pl,m
Parallels
- Romans 5:10-11 (thematic): Reconciliation through Christ’s death: Paul speaks of being reconciled to God through the death of his Son and the resulting peace and justification, echoing Colossians’ emphasis on reconciliation by the cross.
- 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (verbal): Explicit language of divine reconciliation 'God reconciled us to himself through Christ' closely parallels Colossians’ claim that God reconciled all things through Christ.
- Ephesians 1:10 (verbal): Speaks of God’s purpose 'to sum up all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth,' directly paralleling Colossians’ cosmic scope of reconciliation.
- Ephesians 2:14-16 (verbal): Describes Christ as 'our peace' who made Jews and Gentiles one and 'reconciled both to God in one body through the cross,' echoing Colossians’ themes of peace, the cross, and reconciliation.
- Romans 8:19-21 (thematic): Portrays creation’s liberation and renewal awaiting the revealing of God’s children—a cosmic renewal motif resonant with Colossians’ language of reconciling 'all things' in heaven and earth.
Alternative generated candidates
- and through him to reconcile to himself all things, making peace by the blood of his cross—whether things on earth or things in heaven.
- and through him to reconcile to himself all things, making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
Col.1.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ποτε: ADV
- οντας: PART,pres,act,acc,pl,m
- απηλλοτριωμενους: PART,perf,pass,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εχθρους: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- διανοια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- εργοις: NOUN,dat,pl,n
- τοις: ART,dat,pl,n
- πονηροις: ADJ,dat,pl,n
Parallels
- Romans 8:7 (verbal): Speaks of the mind hostile to God (ἐχθροὶ), paralleling Colossians' 'hostile in mind' and the sinful orientation of thought.
- Romans 5:10 (thematic): Both verses portray humanity as former 'enemies' of God and introduce reconciliation through Christ's work.
- Ephesians 2:12-13 (thematic): Describes a prior state of alienation and being 'without God and without hope,' then being brought near in Christ—echoing Colossians' former estrangement.
- Titus 3:3 (thematic): Lists the prior condition of believers—foolish, disobedient, enslaved to passions—similar to Colossians' depiction of doing evil works while alienated.
- Colossians 1:22 (structural): Immediate contextual parallel: the verse that answers 1:21 by explaining how those once alienated and hostile have been reconciled and presented blameless in Christ.
Alternative generated candidates
- And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind because of your evil deeds,
- And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,
Col.1.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- νυνι: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- αποκατηλλαγητε: VERB,aor,pass,ind,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- σωματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- σαρκος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- δια: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θανατου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- παραστησαι: VERB,aor,act,inf
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- αγιους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- αμωμους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- ανεγκλητους: ADJ,acc,pl,m
- κατενωπιον: PREP
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 2 Cor.5:18-21 (thematic): Speaks of God reconciling us to himself through Christ and the ministry/imperative to be reconciled; connects reconciliation, the exchange in Christ, and being declared righteous.
- Rom.5:10-11 (thematic): States that we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son and now are saved/received by his life, echoing reconciliation accomplished by Christ's death.
- Eph.5:27 (verbal): Describes Christ's aim to present the church to himself 'holy and blameless' (or without spot/wrinkle), using language very close to Colossians 1:22 about presentation.
- Heb.9:14-15 (thematic): Portrays Christ's self-offering as securing eternal redemption and cleansing consciences, paralleling the idea of reconciliation effected through his death.
- 1 Pet.1:18-19 (thematic): Emphasizes redemption not by perishable things but by the precious blood of Christ, linking the motif of being reconciled/redeemed through Christ's death.
Alternative generated candidates
- yet now he has reconciled you in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, blameless, and irreproachable before him,
- he has now reconciled in the body of his flesh by his death, to present you holy, blameless, and above reproach before him,
Col.1.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- γε: PART
- επιμενετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- πιστει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- τεθεμελιωμενοι: PART,perf,pass,ptc,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- εδραιοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART
- μετακινουμενοι: PART,pres,pass,ptc,nom,pl,m
- απο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- ελπιδος: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- ευαγγελιου: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- ου: PART,neg
- ηκουσατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κηρυχθεντος: PART,aor,pass,ptc,gen,sg,n
- εν: PREP
- παση: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- κτισει: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- υπο: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- ουρανον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- εγενομην: VERB,aor,mid,ind,1,sg
- εγω: PRON,nom,sg,1
- Παυλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- διακονος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (verbal): Both passages stress holding fast to the gospel/message received as the condition for its saving effect (‘by which you are saved, if you hold firmly…’ vs. ‘if indeed you continue in the faith…’).
- Romans 1:1 (verbal): Paul’s self-designation as a servant/apostle ‘set apart for the gospel’ parallels Colossians’ identification of Paul as a minister/servant of the gospel (shared vocational language).
- Mark 16:15 (allusion): Jesus’ commission to ‘preach the gospel to all creation’ echoes Colossians’ claim that the gospel was proclaimed ‘in all creation under heaven’ (universal scope of proclamation).
- Colossians 2:7 (verbal): Within the same letter Paul uses similar imagery—being rooted/grounded and built up/established in faith—reinforcing the call to remain firm and steadfast in Christ.
- Hebrews 10:23 (thematic): Both exhort believers not to waver but to hold fast the hope/confession of the gospel without shrinking or wavering (emphasis on perseverance in hope).
Alternative generated candidates
- if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven—and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
- if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven; of which I, Paul, became a minister.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For in him all things were created—things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible—whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might have preeminence.
For the Father was pleased that all his fullness should dwell in him. And through him to reconcile to himself all things, making peace by the blood of his cross—whether on earth or in heaven. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing wicked works,
yet now he has reconciled you in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy, blameless, and without reproach before him,
if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven—of which I, Paul, became a minister.