Meaning, commentary and cross references
Colossians 1:17
“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
NIV · New International Version
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
WEB · World English Bible
He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
What does Colossians 1:17 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on Colossians 1:17
And he is before all things,.... Not only in dignity, being preferable to angels and men in his nature, names, offices, and works, and worthy of more honour than all creatures; but he is before them in existence, as he must needs be, since they are all made by him; he was not only before John the Baptist, his forerunner, before Abraham who saw his day and was glad, before the first man was made, but before the angels were in being, or the heavens and the earth, or any creature were formed; and therefore must be God, who is from everlasting to everlasting: and by him all things consist; he upholds all things by the word of his power; the heavens have their stability and continuance from him…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Matthew Henry · Commentary on the Whole Bible, on Colossians 1:12–29
(5.) By him all things consist. They not only subsist in their beings, but consist in their order and dependences. He not only created them all at first, but it is by the word of his power that they are still upheld, Heb 1:3.
Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706–21; Romans–Revelation completed by Nonconformist ministers). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on Colossians 1:12–17
17. All things were created by him, and for him. He places angels in subjection to Christ, that they may not obscure his glory, for four reasons: In the first place, because they were created by him; secondly, because their creation ought to be viewed as having a relation to him, as their legitimate end; thirdly, because he himself existed always, prior to their creation; fourthly, because he sustains them by his power, and upholds them in their condition. At the same time, he does not affirm this merely as to angels, but also as to the whole world.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: Colossians 1:14–20 (WEB)
14in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins. 15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16For by him all things were created in the heavens and on the earth, visible things and invisible things, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things have been created through him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things are held together. 18He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. 19For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile all things to himself by him, whether things on the earth or things in the heavens, having made peace through the blood of his cross.
Cross references
- 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 had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high,
- 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, and we live through him.
- Acts 17:28
‘For in him we live, move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’
- John 1:1–3
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- John 8:58
Jesus said to them, “Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM.”
- John 17:5
Now, Father, glorify me with your own self with the glory which I had with you before the world existed.
- Colossians 1:15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
- Psalms 75:3
Key words
In the Baptist Catechism
- Q15. What are God’s works of providence?
God’s works of providence are His most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all His creatures, and all their actions.