Supremacy of Christ
Image of the invisible God; firstborn of every creature; by him all things were created and consist (ch. 1).
New Testament · Book 51 of 66
Colossians
Christ is preeminent — creator and sustainer, the head of the body, the reconciler of all things. Against every philosophy and empty deceit, the full sufficiency of Christ.
4
Chapters
Supremacy
Of Christ
Philosophy
Against empty
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 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: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 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. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; 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.”
The Christ Hymn at the Centre
Colossians 1:15–20 sets the centre — Christ, the image of the invisible God. Every argument in chapters 2–4 flows from it.
Against philosophyCh. 2
Vain deceit; rudiments of the world. Complete in Christ.
Chapter 1
Christ Hymn
Image of the invisible God · firstborn of creation · in him all things consist · head of the body · firstborn from the dead.
1:15–20
New life in ChristCh. 3
Risen with him; put off, put on; peace of Christ.
In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily (2:9).
- Author
- Paul, with Timothy (1:1)
- Date
- c. AD 60–62, from Roman imprisonment
- Audience
- The church at Colossae, carried by Tychicus and Onesimus
- Position
- New Testament · Book 51 of 66
Structure
- The supremacy of Christ1
Thanksgiving; Epaphras's report; the Christ-hymn; the mystery revealed.
- Completeness in Christ, against false teaching2
In him all the fulness; circumcision not made with hands; beware of philosophy, ritualism, asceticism, mysticism.
- New life in Christ3
Risen with Christ; put off, put on; household relationships ordered by the Lord.
- Prayer and fellowship4
Continue in prayer; conduct toward outsiders; final greetings and commendations.
Section pages
Each section is one focused part of Colossians — purpose, key movements, key verses, Christ-in-this-section. Roughly five minutes each.
Themes
Philosophy warnings
Vain deceit after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ (ch. 2).
Fullness in Christ
In him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, and ye are complete in him (2:9–10).
New life in Christ
Put off the old man; put on the new; the peace of Christ ruling in the heart (ch. 3).