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We are continuing our study of Colossians, and today we come to one of the most stunning passages in all of Scripture: Colossians 1:15–20. This short paragraph is overflowing with Christology—that $10 word that simply means “the study of Christ.” In just a few lines, the Apostle Paul gives us a breathtaking portrait of who Jesus is.

A Hymn or a Poem?

Before we read the text, a quick note: many modern translations set this section apart as poetry. Some scholars even believe it was an early hymn of the church. Whether Paul composed it himself or drew from an existing tradition, the beauty and rhythm of these verses are undeniable.

Here’s what Paul writes:

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 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. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:15-20

Christ vs. Caesar: A Subversive Claim

When we read this passage today, it’s easy to marvel at its theology. But Paul’s audience would have heard something even sharper.

Colossae was deeply influenced by Rome, where Caesar was celebrated as “the image of the gods” and worshiped as divine. Rome’s propaganda claimed that Caesar “held all things together.”

Paul boldly flips this:

  • Christ—not Caesar—is the image of the invisible God.
  • Christ—not Caesar—created all things.
  • Christ—not Caesar—holds all things together.

Rome’s empire was held by violence and fear. Christ’s reign is marked by redemption and forgiveness.

What Does “Firstborn of Creation” Mean?

Paul calls Jesus the “firstborn of all creation,” but this doesn’t mean Jesus was created. Instead, “firstborn” refers to rank and authority. The firstborn was the heir, the one with ultimate privilege.

Paul explains immediately: “For in him all things were created… all things have been created through him and for him.”

Far from being part of creation, Jesus is the Creator himself. All rulers, powers, and authorities—both spiritual and earthly—exist under his authority. Even Caesar was ultimately subject to Christ.

Christ Holds All Things Together

Paul continues: “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

This was deeply comforting for early Christians, many of whom faced persecution, loss of livelihood, and uncertainty. And it speaks to us today, in our own age of anxiety.

Faith asks: Do we believe Christ really is holding all things together? Even when the world seems chaotic, Paul reminds us that Christ is sovereign.

The Head of the Body: Christ and His Church

Paul also says: “He is the head of the body, the church.”

The church is the body of Christ, and Christ is its head. Just as the head directs the body, so Christ leads his people. And where does the Head lead us?

The Gospels show us:

  • Toward the marginalized.
  • Toward healing and restoration.
  • Toward reconciliation and inclusion.

Jesus healed not only to remove physical suffering but also to restore people into community. That’s where Christ leads his body—the church—today: toward those on the outside looking in.

The Fullness of God Dwelling in Christ

Paul makes a breathtaking claim: “For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.”

This was a direct rebuttal to false teaching in Colossae that insisted believers needed secret knowledge, rituals, or special experiences to truly know God. Paul says no: the fullness of God is found in Christ alone.

And what has Christ done? He has reconciled all things through his blood on the cross. By entering death and rising again, Christ defeated sin and death. This was not “cosmic child abuse,” but God himself, in Christ, choosing to reconcile the world through self-giving love.

What This Means for Us

So, what do we do with this portrait of Christ?

  • Christ is supreme. He is Lord over all creation, powers, and authorities.
  • Christ holds all things together. We can rest in him instead of living in fear.
  • Christ leads his body. We are called to follow him to the margins, to reconciliation, to love.
  • Christ reveals God. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus.

The challenge is simple but profound: Do we trust this?

A Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you for Christ—the image of the invisible God, the one who holds all things together. Help us to trust him, to rest in him, and to follow where he leads. May we live as people who embody your reconciling love in a broken world. Amen.