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Selected Verse: Colossians 1:18 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Col 1:18	Strong Concordance	And [2532] he [846] is [2076] the head [2776] of the body [4983], the church [1577]: who [3739] is [2076] the beginning [746], the firstborn [4416] from [1537] the dead [3498]; that [2443] in [1722] all [3956] things he [846] might have [1096] the preeminence [4409].
	King James	And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Revelation of Christ to the Church and the new creation, as the Originator of both. he--emphatical. Not angels in opposition to the false teachers' doctrine concerning angel-worship, and the power of Oeons or (imaginary) spirit emanations from God (Col 2:10, Col 2:18). head of the body, the church--The Church is His body by virtue of His entering into communion corporeally with human nature [NEANDER], (Eph 1:22). The same One who is the Head of all things and beings by creation, is also, by virtue of being "the first-born from the dead," and so "the first-fruits" of the new creation among men, the Head of the Church. who is--that is, in that He is the Beginning [ALFORD]. Rather, this is the beginning of a new paragraph. As the former paragraph, which related to His originating the physical creation, began with "Who is" (Col 1:15); so this, which treats of His originating the new creation, begins with "who is"; a parenthesis preceding, which closes the former paragraph, that parenthesis (see on Col 1:16), including from "all things were created by Him," to "Head of the body, the Church." The head of kings and high priests was anointed, as the seat of the faculties, the fountain of dignity, and original of all the members (according to Hebrew etymology). So Jesus by His unction was designated as the Head of the body, the Church. the beginning--namely, of the new creation, as of the old (Pro 8:22; Joh 1:1; compare Rev 1:8): the beginning of the Church of the first-born (Heb 12:23), as being Himself the "first-born from the dead" (Act 26:23; Co1 15:20, Co1 15:23). Christ's primogeniture is threefold: (1) From eternity the "first-begotten" of the Father (Col 1:15); (2) As the first-born of His mother (Mat 1:25); (3) As the Head of the Church, mystically begotten of the Father, as it were to a new life, on the day of His resurrection, which is His "regeneration," even as His people's coming resurrection will be their "regeneration" (that is, the resurrection which was begun in the soul, extended to the body and to the whole creation, Rom 8:21-22) (Mat 19:28; Act 13:33; Rev 1:5). Sonship and resurrection are similarly connected (Luk 20:36; Rom 1:4; Rom 8:23; Jo1 3:2). Christ by rising from the dead is the efficient cause (Co1 15:22), as having obtained the power, and the exemplary cause, as being the pattern (Mic 2:13; Rom 6:5; Phi 3:21), of our resurrection: the resurrection of "the Head" involves consequentially that of the members. that in all things--He resumes the "all things" (Col 1:20). he might have the pre-eminence--Greek, "He HIMSELF may (thus) become the One holding the first place," or, "take the precedency." Both ideas are included, priority in time and priority in dignity: now in the regenerated world, as before in the world of creation (Col 1:15). "Begotten before every creature, or "first-born of every creature" (Psa 89:27; Joh 3:13).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Revelation of Christ to the Church and the new creation, as the Originator of both.

he--emphatical. Not angels in opposition to the false teachers' doctrine concerning angel-worship, and the power of Oeons or (imaginary) spirit emanations from God (Col 2:10, Col 2:18).

head of the body, the church--The Church is His body by virtue of His entering into communion corporeally with human nature [NEANDER], (Eph 1:22). The same One who is the Head of all things and beings by creation, is also, by virtue of being "the first-born from the dead," and so "the first-fruits" of the new creation among men, the Head of the Church.

who is--that is, in that He is the Beginning [ALFORD]. Rather, this is the beginning of a new paragraph. As the former paragraph, which related to His originating the physical creation, began with "Who is" (Col 1:15); so this, which treats of His originating the new creation, begins with "who is"; a parenthesis preceding, which closes the former paragraph, that parenthesis (see on Col 1:16), including from "all things were created by Him," to "Head of the body, the Church." The head of kings and high priests was anointed, as the seat of the faculties, the fountain of dignity, and original of all the members (according to Hebrew etymology). So Jesus by His unction was designated as the Head of the body, the Church.

the beginning--namely, of the new creation, as of the old (Pro 8:22; Joh 1:1; compare Rev 1:8): the beginning of the Church of the first-born (Heb 12:23), as being Himself the "first-born from the dead" (Act 26:23; Co1 15:20, Co1 15:23). Christ's primogeniture is threefold: (1) From eternity the "first-begotten" of the Father (Col 1:15); (2) As the first-born of His mother (Mat 1:25); (3) As the Head of the Church, mystically begotten of the Father, as it were to a new life, on the day of His resurrection, which is His "regeneration," even as His people's coming resurrection will be their "regeneration" (that is, the resurrection which was begun in the soul, extended to the body and to the whole creation, Rom 8:21-22) (Mat 19:28; Act 13:33; Rev 1:5). Sonship and resurrection are similarly connected (Luk 20:36; Rom 1:4; Rom 8:23; Jo1 3:2). Christ by rising from the dead is the efficient cause (Co1 15:22), as having obtained the power, and the exemplary cause, as being the pattern (Mic 2:13; Rom 6:5; Phi 3:21), of our resurrection: the resurrection of "the Head" involves consequentially that of the members.

that in all things--He resumes the "all things" (Col 1:20).

he might have the pre-eminence--Greek, "He HIMSELF may (thus) become the One holding the first place," or, "take the precedency." Both ideas are included, priority in time and priority in dignity: now in the regenerated world, as before in the world of creation (Col 1:15). "Begotten before every creature, or "first-born of every creature" (Psa 89:27; Joh 3:13).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
And he is the head of the body, the church - Notes Eph 1:22; Eph 5:23, note. Who is the beginning - In all things - alike in the work of creation and in the church. He is the fountain of authority and power, and commences everything that is designed to uphold the order of the universe, and to save the world. The first-born from the dead - At the head of those who rise from their graves. This does not mean literally that he was the first who rose from the dead for he himself raised up Lazarus and others, and the bodies of saints arose at his crucifixion; but it means that he had the pre-eminence among them all; he was the most illustrious of those who will be raised from the dead, and is the head over them all. Especially, he had this pre-eminence in the resurrection in this respect, that he was the first who rose from death to immortality. Others who were raised undoubtedly died again. Christ rose to die no more; see the notes at Co1 15:20. That in all things - Margin, "among all." The Greek will bear either construction, and either will accord with the scope of the apostle's remarks. If the former, it means that he is at the head of all things - the universe; if the latter, that he is chief among those who rose from the dead. Each of these is true, but the scope of the passage seems rather to require us to understand this of everything, and to mean that all the arrangements respecting him were such as to give him supremacy over the universe. He might have the pre-eminence - Greek, "might be first" - πρωτεύων prōteuōn. That is, might be first in rank, dignity, honor, power. He has the pre-eminence: (1) as over the universe which he has formed - as its Creator and Proprietor; (2) as chief among those who shall rise from the dead - since he first rose to die no more, and their resurrection depends on him; (3) as head of the church - all synods, councils, and governments being subject to him, and he alone having a right to give law to his people; and, (4) in the affections of his friends - being in their affections and confidence superior to all others.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
And He Emphatic. The same who is before all things and in whom all things consist. The head of the body, the Church The Church is described as a body, Rom 12:4 sq.; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Co1 10:17, by way of illustrating the functions of the members. Here the image is used to emphasize the position and power of Christ as the head. Compare Col 2:19; Eph 1:22, Eph 1:23; Eph 4:4, Eph 4:12, Eph 4:15, Eph 4:16; Eph 5:23, Eph 5:30. Who is the beginning (ὅς ἐστιν ἀρχὴ) Who is, equivalent to seeing He is. Beginning, with reference to the Church; not the beginning of the Church, but of the new life which subsists in the body - the Church. The first-born from the dead (πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν) Defining how Christ is the beginning of the new spiritual life: by His resurrection. Compare Co1 15:20, Co1 15:23, and Prince of life, Act 3:15 (note) See on Rev 1:5, where the phrase is slightly different, "first-born of the dead." He comes forth from among the dead as the first-born issues from the womb. Compare Act 2:4, "having loosed the pains of death," where the Greek is ὠδῖνας birth-throes. There is a parallelism between first-born of the creation and first-born from the dead as regards the relation of headship in which Christ stands to creation and to the Church alike; but the parallelism is not complete. "He is the first-born from the dead as having been Himself one of the dead. He is not the first-born of all creation as being himself created" (Dwight). In all things The universe and the Church. Might have the preeminence (γένηται πρωτεύων) Lit., might become being first. Πρωτεύω to be first only here in the New Testament. Γένηται become states a relation into which Christ came in the course of time: ἐστιν is (the first-born of all creation) states a relation of Christ's absolute being. He became head of the Church through His incarnation and passion, as He is head of the universe in virtue of His absolute and eternal being. Compare Phi 2:6, "being (ὑπάρχων) in the form of God - was made (γενόμενος) obedient unto death." This sense is lost in the rendering might have the preeminence.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
And - From the whole he now descends to the most eminent part, the church. He is the head of the church - Universal; the supreme and only head both of influence and of government to the whole body of believers. Who is - The repetition of the expression Col 1:15 points out the entrance on a new paragraph. The beginning - Absolutely, the Eternal. The first begotten from the dead - From whose resurrection flows all the life, spiritual and eternal, of all his brethren. That in all things - Whether of nature or grace. He might have the pre - eminence - Who can sound this depth?

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
He is the head of the body - What the apostle has said in the two preceding verses refers to the Divine nature of Jesus Christ; he now proceeds to speak of his human nature, and to show how highly that is exalted beyond all created things, and how, in that, he is head of the Church - the author and dispenser of light, life, and salvation, to the Christian world; or, in other words, that from him, as the man in whom the fullness of the Godhead bodily dwelt, all the mercy and salvation of the Gospel system is to be received. The beginning, the first-born from the dead - In Co1 15:20, Christ is called the first-fruits of them that slept; and here, the chief and first-born from the dead; he being the first that ever resumed the natural life, with the employment of all its functions, never more to enter the empire of death, after having died a natural death, and in such circumstances as precluded the possibility of deception. The αρχη, chief, head, or first, answers in this verse to the απαρχη, or first-fruits, Co1 15:20. Jesus Christ is not only the first who rose from the dead to die no more, but he is the first-fruits of human beings; for as surely as the first-fruits were an indication and pledge of the harvest, so surely was the resurrection of Christ the proof that all mankind should have a resurrection from the dead. That in all - he might have the pre-eminence - That he might be considered, in consequence of his mediatorial office, as possessing the first place in and being chief over all the creation of God; for is it to be wondered at that the human nature, with which the great Creator condescended to unite himself, should be set over all the works of his hands?

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¹³ And [2532] no man [3762] hath ascended up [305] to [1519] heaven [3772], but [1508] he that came down [2597] from [1537] heaven [3772], even the Son [5207] of man [444] which [3588] is [5607] in [1722] heaven [3772].

²⁷ Also I will make [05414] him my firstborn [01060], higher [05945] than the kings [04428] of the earth [0776].

¹⁵ Who [3739] is [2076] the image [1504] of the invisible [517] God [2316], the firstborn [4416] of every [3956] creature [2937]:

²⁰ And [2532], having made peace [1517] through [1223] the blood [129] of his [846] cross [4716], by [1223] him [846] to reconcile [604] all things [3956] unto [1519] himself [846]; by [1223] him [846], I say, whether [1535] they be things in [1909] earth [1093], or [1535] things in [1722] heaven [3772].

²¹ Who [3739] shall change [3345] our [2257] vile [5014] body [4983], that [1519] it [846] may be [1096] fashioned like unto [4832] his [846] glorious [1391] body [4983], according to [2596] the working [1753] whereby he [846] is able [1410] even [2532] to subdue [5293] all things [3956] unto himself [1438].

⁵ For [1063] if [1487] we have been [1096] planted together [4854] in the likeness [3667] of his [846] death [2288], we shall be [2071] also [235] [2532] in the likeness of his resurrection [386]:

¹³ The breaker [06555] is come up [05927] before [06440] them: they have broken up [06555], and have passed through [05674] the gate [08179], and are gone out [03318] by it: and their king [04428] shall pass [05674] before [06440] them, and the LORD [03068] on the head [07218] of them.

²² For [1063] as [5618] in [1722] Adam [76] all [3956] die [599], even [2532] so [3779] in [1722] Christ [5547] shall [2227] all [3956] be made alive [2227].

² Beloved [27], now [3568] are we [2070] the sons [5043] of God [2316], and [2532] it doth [5319] not yet [3768] appear [5319] what [5101] we shall be [2071]: but [1161] we know [1492] that [3754], when [1437] he shall appear [5319], we shall be [2071] like [3664] him [846]; for [3754] we shall see [3700] him [846] as [2531] he is [2076].

²³ And [1161] not [3756] only [3440] they, but [235] ourselves [846] also [2532], which have [2192] the firstfruits [536] of the Spirit [4151], even [2532] we [2249] ourselves [846] groan [4727] within [1722] ourselves [1438], waiting [553] for the adoption [5206], to wit, the redemption [629] of our [2257] body [4983].

⁴ And declared [3724] to be the Son [5207] of God [2316] with [1722] power [1411], according [2596] to the spirit [4151] of holiness [42], by [1537] the resurrection [386] from the dead [3498]:

³⁶ Neither [3777] [1063] can [1410] they die [599] any more [2089]: for [1063] they are [1526] equal unto the angels [2465]; and [2532] are [1526] the children [5207] of God [2316], being [5607] the children [5207] of the resurrection [386].

⁵ And [2532] from [575] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], who is the faithful [4103] witness [3144], and the first begotten [4416] of [1537] the dead [3498], and [2532] the prince [758] of the kings [935] of the earth [1093]. Unto him that loved [25] us [2248], and [2532] washed [3068] us [2248] from [575] our [2257] sins [266] in [1722] his own [846] blood [129],

³³ God [2316] hath fulfilled [1603] the same [5026] unto us [2254] their [846] children [5043], in that he hath raised up [450] Jesus [2424] again [450]; as [5613] it is [1125] also [2532] written [1125] in [1722] the second [1208] psalm [5568], Thou [4771] art [1488] my [3450] Son [5207], this day [4594] have I [1473] begotten [1080] thee [4571].

²⁸ And [1161] Jesus [2424] said [2036] unto them [846], Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], That [3754] ye [5210] which [3588] have followed [190] me [3427], in [1722] the regeneration [3824] when [3752] the Son [5207] of man [444] shall sit [2523] in [1909] the throne [2362] of his [846] glory [1391], ye [5210] also [2532] shall sit [2523] upon [1909] twelve [1427] thrones [2362], judging [2919] the twelve [1427] tribes [5443] of Israel [2474].

²¹ Because [3754] the creature [2937] itself [846] also [2532] shall be delivered [1659] from [575] the bondage [1397] of corruption [5356] into [1519] the glorious [1391] liberty [1657] of the children [5043] of God [2316].
²² For [1063] we know [1492] that [3754] the whole [3956] creation [2937] groaneth [4959] and [2532] travaileth in pain together [4944] until [891] now [3568].

²⁵ And [2532] knew [1097] her [846] not [3756] till [2193] [3739] she had brought forth [5088] her [846] firstborn [4416] son [5207]: and [2532] he called [2564] his [846] name [3686] JESUS [2424].

¹⁵ Who [3739] is [2076] the image [1504] of the invisible [517] God [2316], the firstborn [4416] of every [3956] creature [2937]:

²³ But [1161] every man [1538] in [1722] his own [2398] order [5001]: Christ [5547] the firstfruits [536]; afterward [1899] they that are [3588] Christ's [5547] at [1722] his [846] coming [3952].

²⁰ But [1161] now [3570] is [1453] Christ [5547] risen [1453] from [1537] the dead [3498], and become [1096] the firstfruits [536] of them that slept [2837].

²³ That [1487] Christ [5547] should suffer [3805], and that [1487] he should be the first [4413] that should rise [386] from [1537] the dead [3498], and should [3195] shew [2605] light [5457] unto the people [2992], and [2532] to the Gentiles [1484].

²³ To the general assembly [3831] and [2532] church [1577] of the firstborn [4416], which are written [583] in [1722] heaven [3772], and [2532] to God [2316] the Judge [2923] of all [3956], and [2532] to the spirits [4151] of just men [1342] made perfect [5048],

⁸ I [1473] am [1510] Alpha [1] and [2532] Omega [5598], the beginning [746] and [2532] the ending [5056], saith [3004] the Lord [2962], which [3588] is [5607] [3801], and [2532] which [3588] was [2258] [3801], and [2532] which [3588] is to come [2064] [3801], the Almighty [3841].

¹ In [1722] the beginning [746] was [2258] the Word [3056], and [2532] the Word [3056] was [2258] with [4314] God [2316], and [2532] the Word [3056] was [2258] God [2316].

²² The LORD [03068] possessed [07069] me in the beginning [07225] of his way [01870], before [06924] his works [04659] of old.

¹⁶ For [3754] by [1722] him [846] were [2936] all things [3956] created [2936], that are in [1722] heaven [3772], and [2532] that are in [1909] earth [1093], visible [3707] and [2532] invisible [517], whether [1535] they be thrones [2362], or [1535] dominions [2963], or [1535] principalities [746], or [1535] powers [1849]: all things [3956] were created [2936] by [1223] him [846], and [2532] for [1519] him [846]:

¹⁵ Who [3739] is [2076] the image [1504] of the invisible [517] God [2316], the firstborn [4416] of every [3956] creature [2937]:

²² And [2532] hath put [5293] all [3956] things under [5259] his [846] feet [4228], and [2532] gave [1325] him [846] to be the head [2776] over [5228] all [3956] things to the church [1577],

¹⁸ Let [2603] no man [3367] beguile [2603] you [5209] of your reward [2603] in [1722] a voluntary [2309] humility [5012] and [2532] worshipping [2356] of angels [32], intruding into [1687] those things which [3739] he hath [3708] not [3361] seen [3708], vainly [1500] puffed up [5448] by [5259] his [846] fleshly [4561] mind [3563],

¹⁰ And [2532] ye are [2075] complete [4137] in [1722] him [846], which [3739] is [2076] the head [2776] of all [3956] principality [746] and [2532] power [1849]:

²⁰ But [1161] now [3570] is [1453] Christ [5547] risen [1453] from [1537] the dead [3498], and become [1096] the firstfruits [536] of them that slept [2837].

²³ For [3754] the husband [435] is [2076] the head [2776] of the wife [1135], even [2532] as [5613] Christ [5547] is the head [2776] of the church [1577]: and [2532] he [846] is [2076] the saviour [4990] of the body [4983].

²² And [2532] hath put [5293] all [3956] things under [5259] his [846] feet [4228], and [2532] gave [1325] him [846] to be the head [2776] over [5228] all [3956] things to the church [1577],

⁶ Who [3739], being [5225] in [1722] the form [3444] of God [2316], thought it [2233] not [3756] robbery [725] to be [1511] equal [2470] with God [2316]:

⁴ And [2532] they were [4130] all [537] filled [4130] with the Holy [40] Ghost [4151], and [2532] began [756] to speak with [2980] other [2087] tongues [1100], as [2531] the Spirit [4151] gave [1325] them [846] utterance [669].

¹⁵ And [1161] killed [615] the Prince [747] of life [2222], whom [3739] God [2316] hath raised [1453] from [1537] the dead [3498]; whereof [3739] we [2249] are [2070] witnesses [3144].

²³ But [1161] every man [1538] in [1722] his own [2398] order [5001]: Christ [5547] the firstfruits [536]; afterward [1899] they that are [3588] Christ's [5547] at [1722] his [846] coming [3952].

²⁰ But [1161] now [3570] is [1453] Christ [5547] risen [1453] from [1537] the dead [3498], and become [1096] the firstfruits [536] of them that slept [2837].

³⁰ For [3754] we are [2070] members [3196] of his [846] body [4983], of [1537] his [846] flesh [4561], and [2532] of [1537] his [846] bones [3747].

¹⁶ From [1537] whom [3739] the whole [3956] body [4983] fitly joined together [4883] and [2532] compacted [4822] by [1223] that which every [3956] joint [860] supplieth [2024], according [2596] to the effectual working [1753] in [1722] the measure [3358] of every [1538] part [1520] [3313], maketh [4160] increase [838] of the body [4983] unto [1519] the edifying [3619] of itself [1438] in [1722] love [26].

¹⁵ But [1161] speaking the truth [226] in [1722] love [26], may grow up [837] into [1519] him [846] in all things [3956], which [3739] is [2076] the head [2776], even Christ [5547]:

¹² For [4314] the perfecting [2677] of the saints [40], for [1519] the work [2041] of the ministry [1248], for [1519] the edifying [3619] of the body [4983] of Christ [5547]:

⁴ There is one [1520] body [4983], and [2532] one [1520] Spirit [4151], even as [2531] [2532] ye are called [2564] in [1722] one [3391] hope [1680] of your [5216] calling [2821];

²³ Which [3748] is [2076] his [846] body [4983], the fulness [4138] of him that filleth [4137] all [3956] in [1722] all [3956].

²² And [2532] hath put [5293] all [3956] things under [5259] his [846] feet [4228], and [2532] gave [1325] him [846] to be the head [2776] over [5228] all [3956] things to the church [1577],

¹⁹ And [2532] not [3756] holding [2902] the Head [2776], from [1537] which [3739] all [3956] the body [4983] by [1223] joints [860] and [2532] bands [4886] having nourishment ministered [2023], and [2532] knit together [4822], increaseth [837] with the increase [838] of God [2316].

¹⁷ For [3754] we [2070] being many [4183] are [2070] one [1520] bread [740], and one [1520] body [4983]: for [1063] we are [3348] all [3956] partakers [3348] of [1537] that one [1520] bread [740].

⁴ For [1063] as [2509] we have [2192] many [4183] members [3196] in [1722] one [1520] body [4983], and [1161] all [3956] members [3196] have [2192] not [3756] the same [846] office [4234]:

¹⁵ Who [3739] is [2076] the image [1504] of the invisible [517] God [2316], the firstborn [4416] of every [3956] creature [2937]:

²⁰ But [1161] now [3570] is [1453] Christ [5547] risen [1453] from [1537] the dead [3498], and become [1096] the firstfruits [536] of them that slept [2837].