who is image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation;
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because by him were created all things, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or authorities all things have been created by him and for him.
The verse opens with "for" — it is the reason behind the title just given to Christ, the firstborn of all creation. Everything that exists, from the dust of earth to the unseen ranks of heaven, comes from Him and exists for Him.
The title "firstborn" is not a claim that Christ was the earliest thing made. It states rank, and this verse supplies the reason for that rank.
H. J. VineBut Colossians 1 calls Him not only the "Image of God" but the "Firstborn of all creation." Even if He had been the last to be born, He would still hold the Firstborn's place. Here is the reason: He created all! And when the Creator-Son comes into His creation, He must have the first place.
The sweeping language of this verse is deliberate. It fences off any suggestion that Christ Himself belongs among the things made.
William J. HockingIn this detailed description of the Son's creative work, the Spirit leaves no loophole for unbelieving man to suggest an exception that might seem to disprove His claim: the Son of the Father's love is the Creator of the whole creation. He created all things Himself, in His own right, and as the instrument of God's purpose and glory. So, according to the Spirit's teaching, nothing can cross the fixed barrier between the Son, the Creator, on one side, and the created things He produced on the other.
Three small words carry the weight of the verse. Older English translations blur the first one.
F. B. HoleVerse 16 states this great fact in a threefold way, using three different prepositions: in, by and for. In our Authorized Version the first preposition is "by," just like the second. Word for word, though, it is "in." Look this passage up in Darby's New Translation and you will find footnotes. They tell us that "in" means "characteristic power": "He was the One whose intrinsic power characterized the creation. It exists as His creature." They also tell us that "by" means He was "the active Instrument," and that "for" means He is "the End" for which creation exists.
That first preposition means the universe carries His stamp.
W. H. WestcottHe created the whole creation, the "all things," including thrones and so on, to bear some mark of His glory — each detail in its own measure. Suppose we knew the language of the heavens above our heads, or of the earth beneath our feet, as He created them. Then every form of life, every atom, every colour, every shape, every sound and every authority would tell us something of the wisdom and glory of Christ.
The four terms name positions of office, seen and unseen. Older versions call the last two "principalities" and "powers."
Samuel RidoutWhether they are thrones, the highest officials; or dominions, rulers over parts of God's vast universe; or principalities, lesser authorities; or powers, every angelic being glorying in its strength, fallen and unfallen — though all were unfallen when He created them.
Writers admit the exact difference between the four is beyond us — and that this does not weaken the argument.
F. B. HoleWhat may be the real distinction between thrones, dominions, principalities and powers we do not know, but we do know that they all owe their very existence to our Lord Jesus. Twice over in this one verse is it stated that He is the Creator of "all things."
The closing words rule out the idea of Christ as a workman serving someone greater.
J. T. MawsonHe is not a lesser workman creating for the glory of a higher Master, for a God above Himself, as Arianism later pretended. He is the End of created things as well as their immediate Source. When a creature lives for Him, it finds there both the explanation and the rule of its own being.
Some later taught that Christ was Himself a creature. That claim cannot survive this phrase.
Frederick W. GrantHe is Creator, not created, and all created things are not only by but for Him. Did He, a creature, create all things for Himself? What is left then for God?
Teachers at Colossae offered a religion of ranked spirit-beings that pushed Christ down the ladder.
Scripture QuarterlyThe Colossian heresy turned on a subtle error, a false mysticism that only a privileged few could enter. It set out to explain evil and creation. God is good and matter is evil, so a descending series of angelic orders (principalities and powers) must connect God with the universe. The result was that the Son of God lost His throne and angels received worship.
One day every seat of power He made will stand for Him.
H. J. VineIn the end, someone who represents Christ will fill every throne in the universe. All will be conformed to His image and represent Him. And every place of lordship will be held for the glory of Christ.
- Reason — "For" explains the title before it. Christ ranks first over creation because He made it, not because He was made first.
- In Him — creation bears His stamp. He formed every atom and every authority to show something of His wisdom and glory.
- By Him — He is the active hand behind everything in heaven and earth, seen and unseen, from the dust to the highest thrones.
- For Him — He is the goal, not a workman building for someone greater. Each creature finds the point of its existence in Him.
- Therefore — no spirit-being, philosophy or angelic order stands alongside Him. One day every throne in the universe will represent Him.
And *he* is before all, and all things subsist together by him.
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