Darby Bible
Colossians 1:15
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
13who has delivered us from the authority of darkness, and translated [us] into the kingdom of the Son of his love: 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins; who is image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation; 16because by him were created all things, the things in the heavens and the things upon the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or authorities: all things have been created by him and for him. 17And he is before all, and all things subsist together by him.
Read all of Colossians 1Colossians 1:15 word by word
ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου, πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως·Read the interlinear
Cross-references for Colossians 1:15
- Exodus 24:10and they saw the God of Israel; and there was under his feet as it were work of transparent sapphire, and as it were the form of heaven for clearness.
- Numbers 12:8Mouth to mouth do I speak to him openly, and not in riddles; and the form of Jehovah doth he behold. Why then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses?
- Ezekiel 1:26And above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.
- John 1:18No one has seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].
- John 14:9Jesus says to him, Am I so long a time with you, and thou hast not known me, Philip? He that has seen me has seen the Father; and how sayest thou, Shew us the Father?
- John 15:24If I had not done among them the works which no other one has done, they had not had sin; but now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.
- 2 Corinthians 4:4in whom the god of this world has blinded the thoughts of the unbelieving, so that the radiancy of the glad tidings of the glory of the Christ, who is [the] image of God, should not shine forth [for them].
- Philippians 2:6who, subsisting in the form of God, did not esteem it an object of rapine to be on an equality with God;
- Hebrews 1:3who being [the] effulgence of his glory and [the] expression of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, having made [by himself] the purification of sins, set himself down on the right hand of the greatness on high,
- 1 Timothy 1:17Now to the King of the ages, [the] incorruptible, invisible, only God, honour and glory to the ages of ages. Amen.
- 1 Timothy 6:16who only has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen, nor is able to see; to whom [be] honour and eternal might. Amen.
- Hebrews 11:27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he persevered, as seeing him who is invisible.
- Colossians 1:13who has delivered us from the authority of darkness, and translated [us] into the kingdom of the Son of his love:
- Psalms 89:27And as to me, I will make him firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
- John 1:14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth;
- John 3:16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal.
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
Notes
- 1. Colossians 1:15 1.15 Elohim ↩
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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