Berean Standard Bible
Colossians 1:16
16For 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.
Colossians 1:16 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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:
- New International Version (NIV)For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For by him all things were created, 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.
- New King James Version (NKJV)For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
Context of Colossians 1:16
14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 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. 17He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18And 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.
Read all of Colossians 1Colossians 1:16 word by word
ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς, τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα, εἴτε θρόνοι εἴτε κυριότητες εἴτε ἀρχαὶ εἴτε ἐξουσίαι· τὰ πάντα δι᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται,Read the interlinear
- Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- Himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- all thingsπᾶςpas · allG3956
- were createdκτίζωktizō · to createG2936
- heavenοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- onἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
- visibleὁρατόςhoratos · visibleG3707
- invisibleἀόρατοςaoratos · invisibleG517
- whetherεἴτεeite · whetherG1535
- thronesθρόνοςthronos · throneG2362
- dominionsκυριότηςkuriotēs · lordshipG2963
- rulersἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
- authoritiesἐξουσίαexousia · authorityG1849
- throughδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- forεἰςeis · towardG1519
Cross-references for Colossians 1:16
- Colossians 1:15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
- Psalms 102:25In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
- Isaiah 40:9Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!”
- Isaiah 44:24Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth,
- John 1:3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.
- 1 Corinthians 8:6yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.
- Ephesians 3:9and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
- Hebrews 1:2But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe.
- Hebrews 3:3For Jesus has been counted worthy of greater glory than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself.
- Colossians 1:20and 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.
- Deuteronomy 4:39Know therefore this day and take to heart that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below; there is no other.
- 1 Chronicles 29:11Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in heaven and on earth belongs to You. Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all.
- Ephesians 1:10as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ.
- Philippians 2:10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
- Revelation 5:13And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!”
- Colossians 2:10And you have been made complete in Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Commentaries on Colossians 1:16
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 16For by him were all things created, etc - These two verses contain parts of the same subject. I shall endeavor to distinguish the statements of the apostle, and reason from them in such a way as the premises shall appear to justify, without appealing to any other scripture in proof of the doctrine which I suppose these verses to vindicate. Four things are here asserted: That Jesus Christ is the Creator of the universe; of all things visible and invisible…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 16For by him were all things created - This is one of the reasons why he is called “the image of God,” and the “first-born.” He makes God known to us by his creative power, and by the same power in creation shows that he is exalted over all things as the Son of God. The phrase which is used here by the apostle is universal. He does not declare that he created all things in the spiritual kingdom of God, or that he arranged the events of the gospel…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 15-23Verses 15-23 Christ in his human nature, is the visible discovery of the invisible God, and he that hath seen Him hath seen the Father. Let us adore these mysteries in humble faith, and behold the glory of the Lord in Christ Jesus. He was born or begotten before all the creation, before any creature was made; which is the Scripture way of representing eternity, and by which the eternity of God is represented to us. All things being created by Him, were…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16Thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities in the unseen world refer to different spiritual powers. This line emphasizes Christ's supremacy over these beings, who were getting a lot of attention from false teachers (see 2:18). All things were created through Him and for Him: Christ is both the creator of all things and the purpose of all creation.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1616. For--Greek, "Because." This gives the proof that He is not included in the things created, but is the "first-begotten" before "every creature" (Col 1:15), begotten as "the Son of God's love" (Col 1:13), antecedently to all other emanations: "for" all these other emanations came from Him, and whatever was created, was created by Him. by him--rather as Greek, "in Him": as the conditional element, pre-existent and all-including: the creation of all…Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 1:16
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Colossians 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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