Focused Passage

Colossians 1:15-20

The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel of Reconciliation

Paul moves from thanksgiving for gospel fruit, to prayer for worthy walking, to praise for the Son's supremacy, to the reconciling work of Christ, and finally to Paul's ministry of proclaiming Christ for mature discipleship.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

16 For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him.

17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.

18 And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.

19 For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,

20 and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of His cross.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 15

Cross-references

Hebrews 1 BSB references Romans 8:29 Classic cross-references Hebrews 1:3 Classic cross-references John 1:18 Classic cross-references John 14:9 Classic cross-references John 1:1 Classic cross-references

Original words

[The Son] Ὅς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular [the] image εἰκὼν G1504 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular - τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular invisible ἀοράτου G517 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Singular God Θεοῦ G2316 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular [the] firstborn πρωτότοκος G4416 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular over all πάσης G3956 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Singular creation κτίσεως G2937 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular

Verse 16

Cross-references

Genesis 1:1 Classic cross-references John 1:3 Classic cross-references Romans 11:36 Classic cross-references Revelation 4:11 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 8:6 Classic cross-references

Original words

For ὅτι G3754 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural all things πάντα G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural were created ἐκτίσθη G2936 Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular [things] in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανοῖς G3772 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular earth γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural visible ὁρατὰ G3707 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural invisible ἀόρατα G517 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural whether εἴτε G1535 Conjunction thrones θρόνοι G2362 Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural or εἴτε G1535 Conjunction dominions κυριότητες G2963 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural or εἴτε G1535 Conjunction rulers ἀρχαὶ G746 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural or εἴτε G1535 Conjunction authorities ἐξουσίαι G1849 Noun - Nominative Feminine Plural - τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural All things πάντα G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural were created ἔκτισται G2936 Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular through δι’ G1223 Preposition Him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction for εἰς G1519 Preposition Him αὐτὸν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular

Verse 17

Cross-references

John 1:1 Classic cross-references Acts 17:28 Classic cross-references Hebrews 1:3 Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 8:6 Classic cross-references John 8:58 Classic cross-references

Original words

- Καὶ G2532 Conjunction He αὐτός G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular before πρὸ G4253 Preposition all things πάντων G3956 Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Nominative Neuter Plural all things πάντα G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural hold together συνέστηκεν G4921 Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular

Verse 18

Cross-references

Ephesians 1:22 Classic cross-references John 3:30 Classic cross-references Matthew 16:18 Classic cross-references Revelation 1:5 Classic cross-references Ephesians 4:15 Classic cross-references

Original words

And καὶ G2532 Conjunction He αὐτός G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the ἡ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular head κεφαλὴ G2776 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular of the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular body σώματος G4983 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular the τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular church ἐκκλησίας G1577 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular He ὅς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular is ἐστιν G1510 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular the (ἡ) G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular beginning ἀρχή G746 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular [and] firstborn πρωτότοκος G4416 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular from among ἐκ G1537 Preposition the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural dead νεκρῶν G3498 Adjective - Genitive Masculine Plural so that ἵνα G2443 Conjunction in ἐν G1722 Preposition all things πᾶσιν G3956 Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural He αὐτὸς G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular may γένηται G1096 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular have preeminence πρωτεύων G4409 Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

Colossians 2:9 Classic cross-references John 1:14 Classic cross-references John 1:16 Classic cross-references Ephesians 1:23 Classic cross-references Colossians 2:3 Classic cross-references

Original words

For ὅτι G3754 Conjunction [God] was pleased [to have] εὐδόκησεν G2106 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular all πᾶν G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular [His] τὸ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Singular fullness πλήρωμα G4138 Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular dwell κατοικῆσαι G2730 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active in ἐν G1722 Preposition Him αὐτῷ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular

Verse 20

Cross-references

Ephesians 1:10 Classic cross-references 2 Corinthians 5:18 Classic cross-references John 16:33 Classic cross-references Matthew 1:21 Classic cross-references Romans 5:1 Classic cross-references

Original words

and καὶ G2532 Conjunction through δι’ G1223 Preposition Him αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular to reconcile ἀποκαταλλάξαι G604 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active to εἰς G1519 Preposition Himself αὐτόν G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular - τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural all things πάντα G3956 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural whether εἴτε G1535 Conjunction things τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural on ἐπὶ G1909 Preposition - τῆς G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Singular earth γῆς G1093 Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular or εἴτε G1535 Conjunction things τὰ G3588 Article - Accusative Neuter Plural in ἐν G1722 Preposition - τοῖς G3588 Article - Dative Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανοῖς G3772 Noun - Dative Masculine Plural by making peace εἰρηνοποιήσας G1517 Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular through διὰ G1223 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Neuter Singular blood αἵματος G129 Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular of τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular His αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular cross σταυροῦ G4716 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular - δι’ G1223 Preposition - αὐτοῦ G846 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular

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