who is the image of the invisible God, first-born of all creation,Colossians 1:15 Additional Translations
Clarke's Commentary on the BibleWho is the image of the invisible God - The counterpart of God Almighty, and if the image of the invisible God, consequently nothing that appeared in him could be that image; for if it could be visible in the Son, it could also be visible in the Father; but if the Father be invisible, consequently his image in the Son must be invisible also. This is that form of God of which he divested himself; the ineffable glory in which he not only did not appear, as to its splendor and accompaniments, but concealed also its essential nature; that inaccessible light which no man, no created being, can possibly see. This was that Divine nature, the fullness of the Godhead bodily, which dwelt in him.
The first-born of every creature - I suppose this phrase to mean the same as that, Philippians 2:9 : God hath given him a name which is above every name; he is as man at the head of all the creation of God; nor can he with any propriety be considered as a creature, having himself created all things, and existed before any thing was made. If it be said that God created him first, and that he, by a delegated power from God, created all things, this is most flatly contradicted by the apostle's reasoning in the 16th and 17th verses. As the Jews term Jehovah בכורו של עולם becoro shel olam, the first-born of all the world, or of all the creation, to signify his having created or produced all things; (see Wolfius in loc.) so Christ is here termed, and the words which follow in the 16th and 17th verses are the proof of this. The phraseology is Jewish; and as they apply it to the supreme Being merely to denote his eternal pre-existence, and to point him out as the cause of all things; it is most evident that St. Paul uses it in the same way, and illustrates his meaning in the following words, which would be absolutely absurd if we could suppose that by the former he intended to convey any idea of the inferiority of Jesus Christ.
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the image.
Exodus 24:10 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone...
Numbers 12:8 With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold...
Ezekiel 1:26-28 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone...
John 1:18 No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
John 14:9 Jesus said to him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet have you not known me, Philip? he that has seen me has seen the Father...
John 15:24 If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin...
2 Corinthians 4:4,6 In whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ...
Philippians 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
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...
the invisible.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 6:16 Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach to; whom no man has seen, nor can see...
Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
the firstborn.
Colossians 1:13 Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Psalm 89:27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we beheld his glory...
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish...
Hebrews 1:6 And again, when he brings in the first-begotten into the world, he said, And let all the angels of God worship him.
of every.
Colossians 1:16,17 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones...
Proverbs 8:29-31 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth...
Revelation 3:14 And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things said the Amen, the faithful and true witness...
Colossians 1:15 Parallel Commentaries
Christ Creation Creature Existence Firstborn First-Born Image Invisible Representation Unseen VisibleChrist Creation Creature Existence Firstborn First-Born Image Invisible Representation Unseen VisibleTHE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica®.Colossians 1:15 Mobile Bible
Colossians 1:15 Bible Suite
Colossians 1:15 Biblia Paralela
Colossians 1:15 Chinese Bible
Bible Apps
Bible Hub
