Colossians 1:16
What does Colossians 1:16 mean?
A plain-English look at Colossians 1:16 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Colossians 1:16 means
“All things” were created in Christ—by His agency, within His domain, and for His purposes. This includes the entire cosmos: heaven and earth, visible and invisible realms, including ranks of spiritual authorities (“thrones or dominions or principalities or powers”). Nothing lies outside His creative sovereignty. Creation is not random or autonomous; it exists “through him, and unto him.” He is both the Maker and the goal. This dismantles any fear of spiritual powers or fascination with them; they are creatures, not rivals. For believers, reality becomes Christ-centered: every sphere, seen and unseen, is ordered by and directed to the Son.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000for 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;
KJV
King James Version · 1611For 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:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901for 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;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For by him all things were made, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, authorities, lords, rulers, and powers; all things were made by him and for him;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862because in him were the all things created, those in the heavens, and those upon the earth, those visible, and those invisible, whether thrones, whether lordships, whether principalities, whether authorities; all things through him, and for him, have been created,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For in him were all things created in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominations, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by him and in him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890because 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.
Context
Verse 16 explains why Christ is “firstborn” over creation (verse 15): He is Creator and goal of all things, including spiritual authorities that some in Colossæ may have revered. Verse 17 will add His preexistence and sustaining role, and verse 18 will show His headship in redemption. The accumulating statements leave no room for a diminished Christology; the One who saves is the One who made and rules everything.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 8:6
yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we unto him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him.
- Hebrews 1:10
And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning didst lay the foundation of the earth, And the heavens are the works of thy hands:
- Proverbs 16:4
Jehovah hath made everything for its own end; Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil.
- Isaiah 44:24
Thus saith Jehovah, thy Redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb: I am Jehovah, that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth (who is with me?);
- Colossians 1:20
and through him to reconcile all things unto himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things upon the earth, or things in the heavens.
- Psalms 102:25
Of old didst thou lay the foundation of the earth; And the heavens are the work of thy hands.
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