A | 13. Translation methistemi.

B | 14. Redemption and forgiveness of sins.

C | 15-17. | a | Image of invisible God.

b | Firstborn of every creature.

c | CREATION. "By Him."

Heaven and earth.

d | He is before all.

e | In Him all things consist.

C | 18-20. | a | The Beginning. Head of the body, the church.

b | Firstborn from the dead.

d | In all things pre-eminent.

e | In Him all the fullness dwells.

c | RECONCILIATION. Through blood of cross.

Earth and heaven.

B | 21, 22. Reconciliation. Presentation.

A | 23. Not moved away metakineo.

Christ is set forth in verse 15 under two figures "Image" and "Firstborn". He is the

Image of the invisible God, which is a revelation of truth similar, even if more advanced,

to that found in John 1: 1-18, where as `The Word' He declares Him Whom no man hath

seen at any time. He is set forth as the `Firstborn of all creation' because He is the

Creator of all things even as in John 1: 1-8, as `The Word' He made all things.

We have already seen that ta panta `the all things' indicates the universe as redeemed

and reconciled, and may not necessarily include `all things' panta, that indicate the

universe without reservation of any kind.  This recognition compels us to stop at

Col. 1: 16.  The A.V. reads "For BY Him, were all things created", but the R.V. reads

"For IN Him were all things created". Some have objected to the `pantheism' that

permitted this rendering to enter the R.V. but such an objection can hardly be laid to the

charge of Alford or Bishop Lightfoot who follow the R.V. here.