The Characteristics of Christ

Colossians 1:15-20

Written by Paul

Written to believers in Colossae

Written from Rome

Written in 61 AD

Written because of the Colossian heresy

Written to show the supremacy of Christ

For what are we qualified? v 12

How are we qualified? v 13

Why are we qualified? v 14

He is the image of God, and the first born of creation, v 15 He created all things, v 16

He is before all things, and He is the sustainer of all things, v 17

He is the head of the Church, v 18 He is God, v 19

He is the Reconciler, v 20

… for He rescued us from the domain of darkness, transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins;

Colossians 1:13-14

As believers in Jesus Christ we (Jews and Gentiles) have been given a share in the inheritance (v 12), i.e. the Kingdom of His beloved Son (v 13).

We are transferred because we have been redeemed (purchased from slavery to sin, Rom 6:17-18); we become slaves of righteousness when our sins are forgiven. Our sins are forgiven through faith in Christ, Eph 1:7, Rom

3:26

Only the righteous (people with their sins forgiven) are in the Kingdom. Jewish judgment: Ezekiel 20:37-38

Gentile judgment: Matthew 25:31-46

Saints in “white robes” return with Christ: Rev 19:14

So, what qualifies Christ to redeem us, and to forgive our sins, whereby we are given a position in the Kingdom? Verses 15-20! The characteristics of Christ

Greek word, εἰκων, or icon. He is the exact representation of God

Primarily speaks of His attributes, i.e. holy, sovereign, just, loving, patient, kind, faithful We are created in God’s εἰκων, Genesis 1:26

Our attributes coincide with His

Sovereignty = choice, Holiness = conscience

We cannot see God in all His glory, Exodus 33:20

We can only see an εἰκων of Him

If we have seen Christ, we have seen the Father, John 14:9

Two possibilities: First created being, i.e. the first thing born into creation

OR

He is pre-eminent in creation

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe He is the “first created” “other” inserted into this passage 4 times in verses 16-17

Similar to the Gnostic idea of creative emanations, dualism

First created would be πρωτοκτισισ

BUT, He is the “firstborn” πρωτοτοκος

He is pre-eminent; He has first place in all of creation “Firstborn” is a tile that represents position

Jacob and Esau, Gen 25:31-32, 27:18-29

Manasseh and Ephraim, Genesis 48:18, Jeremiah 31:9

As “firstborn” of creation Christ has been given a Kingdom, v 13 He will take dominion of the earth

Then He will give it back to God the Father, 1 Cor 15:20-26

“for” in Him all things were created… v 16 Subordinate clause, because of the word “for”

He is “firstborn” because He is the Creator Created all things, visible and invisible

Created all levels of angels He is superior to them, Eph 1:21, Phil 2:9-10

Fallen angels are who we do spiritual battle against, Eph 6:12

Refuting the Colossian heresy, there is no “demiurge”

He is “firstborn” because all things were created for Him Doxological purpose

He is eternal “Before” all things in time

“I Am,” Exodus 3:14 YHWH

vowels added later to make Yahweh

JeHoVaH is the Latin equivalent of YHWH

Jesus is “I Am” John 8:58 Literally, I (am) I am

Same translation in LXX of Exodus 3:14 as John 8:58

Hold together OR consist Bring things into being, as in 2 Peter 3:5

The word of God “formed” all things

Once formed, be held together By the “word of His power” Hebrews 1:3

Both of these ideas contain a tremendous amount of power! Nuclear fission – the atomic bomb, nuclear reactors

Nuclear fusion – the sun, hydrogen bomb

Christ holds the entire universe together!