Christian Standard Bible
Colossians 1:15
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:15 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
- New International Version (NIV)The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Context of Colossians 1:15
13He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through him and for him. 17He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.
Read all of Colossians 1Colossians 1:15 word by word
ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου, πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως·Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Colossians 1:15
- Exodus 24:10and they saw the God of Israel. Beneath his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as clear as the sky itself.
- Numbers 12:8I speak with him directly, openly, and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord. So why were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?”
- Ezekiel 1:26Something like a throne with the appearance of lapis lazuli was above the expanse over their heads. On the throne, high above, was someone who looked like a human.
- John 1:18No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side — he has revealed him.
- John 14:9Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
- John 15:24If I had not done the works among them that no one else has done, they would not be guilty of sin. Now they have seen and hated both me and my Father.
- 2 Corinthians 4:4In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
- Philippians 2:6who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited.
- Hebrews 1:3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
- 1 Timothy 1:17Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 6:16who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see, to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
- Hebrews 11:27By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees him who is invisible.
- Colossians 1:13He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves.
- Psalms 89:27I will also make him my firstborn, greatest of the kings of the earth.
- John 1:14The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- John 3:16For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Commentaries on Colossians 1:15
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 15Who 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…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 15Who is the image of the invisible God - ̓̀ ͂ ͂ ͂ ̓́ eikōn tou Theou tou aoratouThe objects. here, as it is in the parallel place in Ephesians 1:20-23, is to give a just view of the exaltation of the Redeemer. It is probable that, in both cases, the design is to meet some erroneous opinion on this subject that prevailed in those churches, or among those that claimed to be teachers there. See the Introduction to this Epistle, and compare the notes at…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. 15the image: In the Greek translation of the Old Testament, eikōn means "image" or "representation." It describes humans as made in the image of God (Genesis 1:26–27). It also refers to the wisdom figure in Jewish writings (see Wisdom of Solomon 7:25–26). New Testament writers describe Christ as "the wisdom of God" to explain his importance (compare 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30). the firstborn over all creation: This phrase was important in early Christian…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1515. They who have experienced in themselves "redemption" (Col 1:14), know Christ in the glorious character here described, as above the highest angels to whom the false teachers (Col 2:18) taught worship was to be paid. Paul describes Him: (1) in relation to God and creation (Col 1:15-17); (2) in relation to the Church (Col 1:18-20). As the former regards Him as the Creator (Col 1:15, 16) and the Sustainer (Col 1:17) of the natural world; so the latter…Read the comment
Topics related to Colossians 1:15
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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