Deep study 04

Before all things

Colossians 1:15–20

The textual thesis

Paul explains what ‘firstborn of all creation’ means: the Son is above all creation because every created thing was made in Him, through Him, and for Him.

Do not stop at verse 15

Paul immediately tells us why

Start with the English“Firstborn of all creation, because in Him all things were created.”

The Greek is included only to show what wording the explanation comes from. Everything is explained in plain English first, so you can follow the point without reading Greek.

See the Greek wording

πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως, ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα

The meaning of ‘firstborn’ (πρωτότοκος) must be read through Paul’s next word, ‘because’ (ὅτι). Firstborn can refer to birth order, but it can also describe status, inheritance, and supremacy. Paul tells us why the title applies here: all things were created in the Son.

Psalm 89:27 supplies a biblical analogy: David is made ‘firstborn, highest of the kings of the earth.’ The parallel definition is rank, not first existence.

Trace the prepositions

In Him · through Him · for Him

Start with the English“All things have been created through Him and for Him.”

The Greek is included only to show what wording the explanation comes from. Everything is explained in plain English first, so you can follow the point without reading Greek.

See the Greek wording

τὰ πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται

Paul connects all of creation to the Son in three ways: it was created ‘in Him’ (ἐν), ‘through Him’ (δι’), and ‘for Him’ (εἰς). Put plainly, creation stands in relation to the Son, was brought about through Him, and exists for Him. ‘Through’ identifies agency and ‘for’ identifies goal; ‘in’ is broader and should not be forced into one technical definition.

The phrase ‘have been created’ (ἔκτισται) describes a completed act with an abiding result. The created order still stands in relation to the Son and exists for Him as its goal. The conclusion that He is not part of creation comes from this full pattern and from Paul’s statement that He is before all things—not from assigning one fixed technical meaning to each preposition.

Paul includes everything

Visible, invisible, and every authority

Start with the English“All things … visible and invisible … whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities.”

The Greek is included only to show what wording the explanation comes from. Everything is explained in plain English first, so you can follow the point without reading Greek.

See the Greek wording

τὰ πάντα … τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα … εἴτε θρόνοι εἴτε κυριότητες εἴτε ἀρχαὶ εἴτε ἐξουσίαι

Paul defines ‘all things’ (τὰ πάντα) so the reader cannot quietly restrict it to the church or to moral renewal alone. His pairs—heaven and earth, visible and invisible—include the whole created order, even spiritual powers.

Verse 18 then deliberately turns to new creation: the Son is also the ‘beginning’ (ἀρχή) and firstborn from the dead. Paul distinguishes the original creation of verses 16–17 from resurrection and new creation while placing both under the Son’s supremacy.

The sustaining work

Before all things—and holding them together

Start with the English“He is before all things, and all things hold together in Him.”

The Greek is included only to show what wording the explanation comes from. Everything is explained in plain English first, so you can follow the point without reading Greek.

See the Greek wording

αὐτός ἐστιν πρὸ πάντων, καὶ τὰ πάντα ἐν αὐτῷ συνέστηκεν

The phrase ‘before all things’ (πρὸ πάντων) naturally places the Son before creation. The words ‘hold together’ (συνέστηκεν) describe the created order as continuing to exist in a coherent state in Him.

If the Son began to exist in Mary, He could not also exist before all things, create all things, be the goal of creation, and hold it together. Paul says all of these things about the Son.

What the text contributes

Paul’s explanation makes ‘firstborn’ a title of supremacy over creation, not membership within it: the Son precedes, produces, receives, and sustains the entire created order.

Keep the teaching precise

The text explicitly says

All things visible and invisible were created in, through, and for the Son; He is before them and they hold together in Him.

The text naturally implies

The Son stands on the Creator side of the Creator–creation distinction.

What this passage does not establish by itself

Colossians 1 does not by itself explain every nuance of the word ‘firstborn’ in every biblical context.

Read this together with

Sources and further verification

NET Bible: Colossians 1 and translation notes ↗