Tuesday, September 12th, 2023

Scripture: Col. 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Teaching: Paul wrote to the Colossians to refute certain heresies that were simmering in that church body such as Gnosticism, a denial of Jesus Christ’s deity, and forms of legalism. In a move we can all model our own apologetics after, rather than begin with individually refuting each heresy, Paul first elevates the discussion to crystalize who Jesus Christ is. If a church cannot understand who Jesus Christ is, the natural result is false teaching, heretical theologies, and debilitating debate. Paul’s statement in verse 15 is one that, like the Colossians, some even today misunderstand and thus, their theology and beliefs fall short of who Jesus Christ is.

The word for “image” is eikon, the Greek word meaning “copy” or “likeness” from which we get the word “icon.” What Paul is saying is that Jesus is not merely like God, he is the exact likeness of God. As John’s Gospel testifies, Jesus is the Son of God, or God incarnate. Jesus was fully God and fully man, giving flesh to what was previously unable to be seen. When God made Himself seen in the Old Testament, it was not God’s likeness, it was God manifesting Himself in His creation (a burning bush, pillars of cloud, thunder/lightning, etc.). In Jesus, God was made flesh, or incarnated. It is how Jesus, in John 14:9, said to Philip, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” While God is Spirit, and thereby invisible (John 4:24), Jesus is the image of the invisible God. He is God made visible in flesh.

The word “firstborn” in verse 15 has raised many questions over the years and led to false teaching. This term does not refer to Jesus as a created being, but instead, is a statement showing his supremacy over creation and inherent right to rule. Placed in context of this letter, and all of Scripture, this understanding is the only clear interpretation. In Hebrew and Greek culture, whether a son was born first chronologically or simply chosen by the father, the title of “firstborn” denoted his supreme ranking and right to inherit his father’s possessions. Verse 15 begins Paul’s most powerful presentation of Christology, or the doctrine of Christ, by expressing Jesus Christ’s relation to God, that being that He is God and He is, by right and nature, supreme over all creation.

Takeaway: John’s Gospel and Colossians 1:15 go hand in hand, as they both call us to believe that Jesus is God incarnate. Jesus is not merely a good teacher, a miracle worker, or revolutionary leader; He is preeminent to all creation. When he says in John 16:33, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world,” we can trust that he has overcome the world because in him and by him all things were created. This is not the bravado of a petty tyrant, but the promise of the Creator of all things who proved himself by his own resurrection and triumph over death. When we know and trust who Jesus is, as he tells us, we may have peace in him even when the world around us brings nothing but trouble. He is the image of the invisible God we cling to and the good, just, and rightful ruler of all creation.