Colossians 1:17

Cited in 2 topics on this site.

Translations sourced from the public-domain WEB, KJV, and ASV. See all sources.

“He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.”

— WEB

“And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

— KJV

“and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.”

— ASV

Cross-references

Related verses via the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Hebrews 1:3 "His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, who, when he ha…"
1 Corinthians 8:6 "yet to us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, …"
John 17:5 "Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed."
Acts 17:28 "‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’"
John 8:58 "Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.Exodus 3:14”"
John 1:1-3 "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Psalms 75:3 "The earth and all its inhabitants quake. I firmly hold its pillars. Selah."
Colossians 1:15 "who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation."

Commentary

(Joh 8:58.) Translate as Greek, "And He Himself (the great HE) is (implying divine essential being) before all things," in time, as well as in dignity. Since He is before all things, He is before even time, that is, from eternity. Compare "the first-born of every creature" (Col 1:15). by him--Greek, "IN Him" (as the conditional element of existence, Col 1:16) [ALFORD]. consist--"subsist." Not only are called into being from nothing, but are maintained in their present state. The Son of God is the Conserver, as well as the Creator of all things [PEARSON]. BENGEL less probably explains, "All things in Him come together into one system: the universe found its completion in Him" (Isa 41:4; Rev 22:13). Compare as to GOD, Rom 11:36 : similar language; therefore Christ must be God.

— Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (public domain)

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