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Selected Verse: Colossians 1:17 - Hebrew Names
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Col 1:17 |
Hebrew Names |
He is before all things, and in him all things are held together. |
| |
King James |
And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
(Joh 8:58.) Translate as Greek, "And He Himself (the great HE) is (implying divine essential being) before all things," in time, as well as in dignity. Since He is before all things, He is before even time, that is, from eternity. Compare "the first-born of every creature" (Col 1:15).
by him--Greek, "IN Him" (as the conditional element of existence, Col 1:16) [ALFORD].
consist--"subsist." Not only are called into being from nothing, but are maintained in their present state. The Son of God is the Conserver, as well as the Creator of all things [PEARSON]. BENGEL less probably explains, "All things in Him come together into one system: the universe found its completion in Him" (Isa 41:4; Rev 22:13). Compare as to GOD, Rom 11:36 : similar language; therefore Christ must be God. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
And he is before all things - As he must be, if he created all things. Those who regard this as referring to a moral creation, interpret it as meaning that he has the pre-eminence over all things; not as referring to his pre-existence. But the fair and proper meaning of the word "before" (πρὸ pro) is, that he was before all things in the order of existence; compare Mat 8:29; Joh 11:55; Joh 13:1; Act 5:36; Act 21:38; Co2 12:2. It is equivalent to saying that he was eternal - for he that had an existence before any thing was created, must be eternal. Thus, it is equivalent to the phrase, "In the beginning;" Gen 1:1; compare the notes at Joh 1:1.
And by him all things subsist - Or are sustained; see the notes at Heb 1:3. The meaning is, that they are kept in the present state; their existence, order, and arrangement are continued by his power. If unsupported by him, they would fall into disorder, or sink back to nothing. If this be the proper interpretation, then it is the ascription to Christ of infinite power - for nothing less could be sufficient to uphold the universe; and of infinite wisdom - for this is needed to preserve the harmonious action of the suns and systems of which it is composed. None could do this but one who is divine; and hence we see the reason why he is represented as the image of the invisible God. He is the great and glorious and everactive agent by whom the perfections of God are made known. |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
He is (αὐτὸς ἔστιν)
Both words are emphatic. Ἔστιν is, is used as in Joh 8:58 (see note), to express Christ's absolute existence. "He emphasizes the personality, is the preexistence" (Lightfoot). For similar emphasis on the pronoun, see Eph 2:14; Eph 4:10, Eph 4:11; Jo1 2:2; Rev 19:15.
Before all things
In time.
By Him (ἐν αὐτῷ)
In Him as Col 1:16. So Rev.
Consist (συνέστηκεν)
Cohere, in mutual dependence. Compare Act 27:28; Heb 1:3. For other meanings of the verb, see on Rom 3:5. Christ not only creates, but maintains in continuous stability and productiveness. "He, the All-powerful, All-holy Word of the Father, spreads His power over all things everywhere, enlightening things seen and unseen, holding and binding all together in Himself. Nothing is left empty of His presence, but to all things and through all, severally and collectively, He is the giver and sustainer of life.... He, the Wisdom of God, holds the universe in tune together. He it is who, binding all with each, and ordering all things by His will and pleasure, produces the perfect unity of nature and the harmonious reign of law. While He abides unmoved forever with the Father, He yet moves all things by His own appointment according to the Father's will" (Athanasius). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| And he is before all things - It is not said, he was: he is from everlasting to everlasting. And by him all things consist - The original expression not only implies, that he sustains all things in being, but more directly, All things were and are compacted in him into one system. He is the cement, as well as support, of the universe. And is he less than the supreme God? |
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. To him be the glory for ever! Amen.
13 I am the Alef and the Tav, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
4 Who has worked and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, the first, and with the last, I am he."
16 For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.
15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
58 Yeshua said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."
3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
2 I know a man in Messiah, fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I don't know, or whether out of the body, I don't know; God knows), such a one caught up into the third heaven.
38 Aren't you then the Egyptian, who before these days stirred up to sedition and led out into the wilderness the four thousand men of the Assassins?"
36 For before these days Todah rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing.
1 Now before the feast of the Passover, Yeshua, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
55 Now the Passover in Judea was at hand. Many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover, to purify themselves.
29 Behold, they cried out, saying, "What do we have to do with you, Yeshua, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?"
5 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what will we say? Is God unrighteous who inflicts wrath? I speak like men do.
3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
28 They took soundings, and found twenty fathoms. After a little while, they took soundings again, and found fifteen fathoms. {15 fathoms = 90 feet = 27.4 meters}
16 For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.
15 Out of his mouth proceeds a sharp, double-edged sword, that with it he should strike the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He treads the winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of God, the Almighty.
2 And he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world.
11 He gave some to be emissaries; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers;
10 He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.
14 For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition,
58 Yeshua said to them, "Most certainly, I tell you, before Abraham came into existence, I AM."