Colossians Class Schedule 3/24/19 Col 1:17-18 R. Henderson

What do we mean when we say the person of Christ? work of Christ? Outline* I. The Person of Jesus Christ :15-18 1. Jesus Christ in Relationship to God the Father :15a 2. Jesus Christ in Relationship to the Creation :15b-17 a. The Relationship Stated :15b b. The Relationship Amplified :16-17 3. Jesus Christ in Relationship to the Church :18 a. The Statement of His Position :18a b. The Reason for His Position :18b c. The Aim of His Position :18c II. The Work of Christ 1:19-2:3 * McCalley

Outline* I. The Person of Jesus Christ :15-18 1. Jesus Christ in Relationship to God the Father :15a 2. Jesus Christ in Relationship to the Creation :15b-17 a. The Relationship Stated :15b b. The Relationship Amplified :16-17 3. Jesus Christ in Relationship to the Church :18 a. The Statement of His Position :18a b. The Reason for His Position :18b c. The Aim of His Position :18c II. The Work of Christ 1:19-2:3 * McCalley

15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

How would you describe God the Son? How do you describe His relationship to the body of believers (the church)? 15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16  For by (in) Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

Prepositions show direction and location of action

15  He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16  For by (in) Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for (unto) Him. 17  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.

17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together He (Christ) is before all things is - eimi – the state in which someone or something continuously exits (present, indicative, active) also used in v:15 & v:18 before - pro – the idea is that Christ existed prior to see John 1:1, John 8:58 This revelation clearly separates Christ from every created entity. "He" has the force of "He and no other" in the Greek text. Constable all things – pas – every one none excluded; used four times in v:16 & v:17

17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Subj) all things – pas – every one none excluded hold together – synistēmi - syn, "with," histēmi, "to stand," - to stand with or to be constituted The words “hold together” show Christ to be the cohesive power of the universe. (McCalley) in (en) Him creation was “in Him” (v:16) so it follows that all things hold together “in Him” 3/24/19 Col 1:17-18 R. Henderson

Christ’s attributes in verses 16 &17 * a. Christ Is the Originator of All Things The opening words of verse 16 use the word by(in) to show that the plans for creation were born and formulated in His mind. b. Christ Is the Builder of All Things This is expressed by the words “through Him,” which picture Christ as producing that which He conceived. c. Christ Is the Owner of All Things The preposition for(unto) carries this idea. It is for His pleasure and honor and glory that all things exist. Though stained by sin, the ultimate aim of all will be His glory. d. Christ Is the Predecessor of All Things This is conveyed by the preposition before, which shows Him to be above and before all creation. e. Christ Is the Sustainer of All Things The words hold together show Christ to be the cohesive power of the universe. The truth of the matter is that every heartbeat is a gift of His grace, sustained and maintained by Him alone. * McCalley

He (Christ) is also (the) head of the body 18  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. He (Christ) is also (the) head of the body is - eimi – the state in which someone or something continuously exits (present, indicative, active) head - kephalē - metaphorically of God, Christ or believers, i.e., the head, chief, one to whom others may be subordinate The noun head has a definite article with it stressing His exclusive position. He is not a head; He is the head.* the body – as described in Eph 1 22-23 And He ---- gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, * McCalley

and here again we see: the body = the church 18  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. and here again we see: the body = the church parallel verses: Eph 1:22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, Eph 5:23b --- as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. an important verse about Christ’s headship: 1 Cor 11:3ac But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, ---- and God is the head of Christ.

18  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. Lit: who is its beginning is - eimi – the state in which someone or something continuously exits (present, indicative, active) beginning identifies the subject who (Christ) beginning - archē - denotes an act, a cause, the origin; Christ is called "the beginning" because He is the efficient cause of the creation see Rev 3:14, Rev 22:13

18  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. (who is) the firstborn from the dead (lit: dead ones) The word dead is plural in the Greek text, showing that He is the only one who has ever broken the power of death. McCalley firstborn - prōtotokos - from prōtos, "first," and tiktō, "to beget"; in Christ’s relationship to the Father, expressing His priority to, and preeminence over creation, not in the sense of being the "first" to be born – Acts 26:23, Rev 1:5 He is the firstborn of all creation (v:15) and now the firstborn from the dead ones

so that – with a purpose that 18  He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. so that – with a purpose that He Himself will come to have first place in everything He Himself = Christ will come – ginomai – coming into a new state of being, a state that never existed before first place in everything the One who is pre-eminent (Wuest) 3/24/19 Col 1:17-18 R. Henderson