In Colossians 1:15–23 Paul teaches about the nature and divinity of Jesus Christ and that He is before or preeminent in all things. False teachers were claiming that Jesus may have been prominent but not the foremost highest-ranking being in all creation. As part of his case, Paul stated, “He [Jesus] is before all things” meaning Jesus Christ existed before anything else was created. Since only God can exist before all of creation, Paul affirmed that Jesus Christ is God. I also believe, however, that Jesus is the first fruits in all things where He was the first to be raised from the dead and that He was the first to get a spiritual body, and the first to be in heaven with a spiritual body.
Colossians 1:15–23
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Paul said, “Who (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature”. Jesus is “before all things” because He is Creator of all things: “For everything was created by him, 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”.
Jesus Christ had to exist “before all things” (before the creation of the world) to be present and active with God at the creation of the world: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (John 1:1–10). The “Word” is an undeniable reference to Jesus Christ in this passage. The apostle John established Christ’s eternal existence, an attribute that can only be ascribed to God.
John 1:1–10
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
John also confirmed that there is absolutely nothing that Jesus did not create: “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made”. Everything in the universe came about by and through Jesus, the source of life (Hebrews 1:3). Therefore, Jesus outranks everything in creation because He is the eternal God and Creator of all things. As Creator, Jesus has absolute superiority over all creation, including any false gods, idols, or spirit beings that these false teachers in the early church were promoting.
Hebrews 1:3
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
He is before all things means Jesus Christ is sovereign and supreme: “The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven”. Jesus alone is the perfect image of God, expressing His character and glory. Paul reinforces the point that Jesus is God: “For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ” (Colossians 1:19).
Colossians 1:19
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
He is before all things means Jesus is first in everything: “Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So, he is first in everything” (Colossians 1:18). Every other being in creation is subject to His authority (Matthew 8:23–27; Matthew 28:18; John 3:35). “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11; see also Hebrews 1:4). Jesus Christ reigns supreme over and above everything in the universe (Ephesians 1:22–23; John 3:31).
Colossians 1:18
For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
Matthew 8:23–27
23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him.
24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
John 3:35
The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
Philippians 2:9–11
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Hebrews 1:4
Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
Ephesians 1:22–23
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
John 3:31
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
To deny Christ’s preeminence or supremacy is that it negates His sufficiency as Lord and Saviour which counters the points that through him (Jesus) God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault” (Colossians 1:20–23). Paul challenged the Colossians to stand firm in the rock-solid good news by which they had received salvation and not let false teachings cause them to drift away from the truth.
Colossians 1:20–23
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
He is before all things means Jesus Christ has always existed—He is “the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Timothy 1:17). He was alive and active before the creation of the world. Indeed, He is the Creator, our source of life, and first in everything. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior—the only One sufficient to reconcile us sinners to God. “And he is God, the one who rules over everything and is worthy of eternal praise! Amen” (Romans 9:5).
1 Timothy 1:17
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Romans 9:5
Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.