Colossians 1:15–20

“The image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.”

Text — King James Version (1611)

1:15Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

1:16For 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:

1:17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

1:18And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

1:19For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

1:20And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

From the site’s Bible translations (Day 10). Compare other translations on the compare view.

Works discussing this passage

Links marked curated are an editor’s selection; links marked cited in text were found by scanning the work for a reference to this passage.

Cited in the Fathers’ own texts

Gregory of Nyssa — Against Eunomius cited in text · 9 references — He has no right to assert a greater and less in the Divine being. A systematic statement of the teaching of the Church.
Ambrose of Milan — Exposition of the Christian Faith cited in text · 7 references
Ambrose of Milan — On the Holy Spirit cited in text · 6 references
Tertullian — Adversus Marcionem cited in text · 5 references — Against Marcion, Book I (Tertullian)
Origen — Commentary on the Gospel of John (partial: Books I, II, IV, V, VI, X) cited in text · 4 references — What Good Things are Announced in the Gospels.
Basil of Caesarea — On the Holy Spirit (De Spiritu Sancto) cited in text · 3 references
Basil of Caesarea — Hexaemeron cited in text · 2 references — Hexaemeron, Homily I (Basil)
John Chrysostom — Homilies on the Gospel of John cited in text · 2 references — John 1:3
Gregory of Nazianzus — Select Orations cited in text · 2 references — Oration 21 (Gregory Nazianzen)
Socrates Scholasticus — Ecclesiastical History cited in text · 2 references — Division begins in the Church from this Controversy; and Alexander Bishop of Alexandria excommunicates Arius and his Adherents.

Parallel passages

Philippians 2:5–11 — Christ's humility and exaltation.

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