Rev. Don Campbell
Colossians 1-4; Philemon
THOUGHT FOR TODAY, DECEMBER 15, 2019
“THE PREEMINENT CHRIST”
From prison, Paul wrote: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:15-20, NKJV). The phrase “the firstborn over all creation” is preferable to “firstborn of all creation,” as is found in the King James Version, the English Standard Version and others because “firstborn of” is sometimes interpreted to mean that Jesus himself was created. The context forbids this, but some, ignoring the context, give it that meaning.
The term “firstborn over creation” denotes two things. First, it denotes preeminence (v. 18). As Paul would say, the law says the same thing: “If a man has two wives, the one loved and the other unloved, and both the loved and the unloved have borne him children, and if the firstborn son belongs to the unloved, then on the day when he assigns his possessions as an inheritance to his sons, he may not treat the son of the loved as the firstborn in preference to the son of the unloved, who is the firstborn, but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the unloved, by giving him a double portion of all that he has, for he is the firstfruits of his strength. The right of the firstborn is his” (Deuteronomy 21:15-17).
Second, the firstborn over creation denotes power: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs” (Hebrews 1:1-4). Saint and sinner alike live in a Christ-created, Christ-centered, Christ-controlled universe, whether they recognize it or not.
CONNECTIONS
1. Those of the world battle for political and economic power, never stopping to think that all dominion, rule, and authority belongs to Christ. Do believers sometimes plunge themselves into these battles?
2. Paul urges the Colossians not to shift from the hope of the gospel (1:23). What is that hope? (Colossians 1:27)
