Devine Scripture

Colossians 1:15

What does Colossians 1:15 mean?

A plain-English look at Colossians 1:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Colossians 1:15 means

Christ is “the image of the invisible God,” meaning He perfectly reveals God to us; in seeing Christ, we see God’s character and glory made known. He is also “the firstborn of all creation.” Firstborn here speaks of rank and rights, not origin as a creature. It asserts His supremacy over creation—He stands above it as heir and Lord. The invisible God becomes known in the visible Christ; the One beyond reaches to us in the Son. This verse begins a hymn-like confession of Christ’s preeminence, insisting that any view of reality or spirituality that bypasses Christ misses the very image and authority of God.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Who is the image of the unseen God coming into existence before all living things;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

who is the image of the invisible God, first-born of all creation,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

who is image of the invisibleGod, firstborn of all creation;

Context

Verse 15 launches the Christ-hymn (verses 15–20), exalting Jesus’ identity and work. It will be elaborated by verses 16–17 (His relation to creation) and verse 18 (His relation to the church and new creation). Verses 19–20 will highlight the fullness that dwells in Him and His reconciling work by the cross. This section grounds all exhortation in who Christ is, directly answering any teaching that diminishes His status or sufficiency.

v.14in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins:

v.15This passage

v.16for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 14:9

    Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and dost thou not know me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; how sayest thou, Show us the Father?

  • Colossians 1:13

    who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love;

  • Proverbs 8:29

    When he gave to the sea its bound, That the waters should not transgress his commandment, When he marked out the foundations of the earth;

  • Hebrews 11:27

    By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

  • Colossians 1:16

    for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;

  • Philippians 2:6

    who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped,

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