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"For by Him were all things created, that are in the heavens, and on the earth (epi tes
ges) visible and invisible" (Col. 1: 16).
Here we learn that "things on the earth" are as much the creation of the Lord as are the
things in the heavens. Moreover, the words "visible and invisible" seem explanatory,
thus:
A |
Things in the HEAVENS.
B
| Things on the EARTH.
B
| VISIBLE things.
A |
INVISIBLE things.
It is the function of earthly, visible things to set forth the invisible heavenly realities.
Let us see this from the Word.
"From the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead"
(Rom. 1: 20).
This however is but the teaching of spiritual infancy: a robust faith "endures as seeing
Him Who is invisible", or as II Cor. 4: has it:--
"While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen;
for the things which are seen are for a season, but the things which are not seen are
age-abiding" (II Cor. 4: 18).
When we turn to the great central section of Colossians, we find a reference to "the
world" instead of "the earth". Both terms are, however, used similarly. Let us see this
and note how parallel it is.
"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or
of the new moon, or of the Sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come: but the
body is of Christ . . . . . Wherefore if ye died with Christ from the rudiments of the world,
why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances (such as) touch not, taste
not, handle not . . . . . If ye then be risen with Christ, seek . . . . . set . . . . . not on things
on the earth" (Col. 2: 16, 17, 20, 21; 3: 1, 2).
Here we have the rudiments of the world, constituted of "shadow of things to come",
set in correspondence with "things on the earth" which are "visible" and "for a season",
not heavenly and age-abiding. In the one case the argument is: "If ye died with Christ",
whereas in the other it is: "If ye then be risen with Christ."
The phrase epi tes ges "on (upon, or in,) the earth" occurs too many times for us to
give a list of occurrences here, but we note its twofold usage as follows:
USED IN A "GOOD" SENSE.
"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" (Matt. 6: 10).