 |  |
Col. 1: 13-23
and
3: 5-15.
G | 1: 15, 16. The Creator. The Image.
H | 1: 20. Reconciliation of heaven and earth.
I | 1: 17, 18. Christ pre-eminent. All in Him.
J | 1: 20. Peace and forgiveness of sins.
K | 1: 22. Holy, blameless unreproveable.
G | 3: 10. Created after Image.
H | 3: 11. Reconciliation of Jew and Greek.
I | 3: 11. Christ is all and in all.
J | 3: 13, 15. Peace. Forgive quarrel.
K | 3: 9, 12. Put off, put on, holy and beloved.
It is evident that there is an intentional parallel here, and we must not attempt an
exposition of Col. 1: 13-23 without giving it a place. The subject is so vast that one
falters at the threshold. Who can hope to handle aright such truth as is involved in the
doctrine of the Invisible God, and of Christ His Image? The mighty sweep of creation
here unfolded almost leaves the mind stunned; and even more wonderful is the transition
from the Headship of creation to the Headship of the church. That God should create is
natural, but that He should redeem and reconcile is a revelation of greater glory; and
unless we have a true conception of His purposes and ways more harm than good may
come from an attempt to unfold the apostle's teaching. The surest safeguard for the
expositor is to observe not only the immediate setting, but also the remote context; and
here the remote context embraces every other passage of Scripture that speaks of kindred
themes. To explore this vast territory would be a life-work; to attempt to summarize it
on paper would demand a large volume. We can do little more than draw attention to the
obvious and give a few guiding principles.
While we maintain that the distinctive message of Colossians concerns the
dispensation of the mystery, as will be made clear when Col. 1: 23-29 is before us, this
does not preclude the use of other scriptures when they deal with the same or parallel
lines of teaching. While the Image of the Invisible God is a title which occurs only in
Colossians, it would be unreasonable to disregard such a passage as John 1: 18 in an
endeavour to appreciate its meaning.
John 1:
Colossians 1:
Hebrews 1:
The Word.
The Image.
The express Image.
God never seen.
The Invisible God.
The Substance.
All things made by Him.
All things created by Him.
Ages, heaven and earth made by Him.
Preferred before John.
Pre-eminent in all.
Superior to angels.
His fullness.
All the fullness.
Heir of all things.
---
All things by Him consist.
All things upheld by Him.
The Word was God.
---
Thy throne, O God.
The only begotten Son.
Firstborn.
Firstborn.
Continuing our study from Heb. 1: we learn that there is a creation which is to perish
and wax old like a garment (Heb. 1: 11, 12); while in contrast we have the words, "Thou
remainest" and "Thou art the same". Towards the close of the epistle, where the apostle
gathers up the threads of his theme, we learn that while this present creation is to perish,