Understanding Colossians 1:16: All Things Through Him

Context of Colossians 1:16

This verse is part of a powerful hymn in Colossians 1:15-20 that celebrates Jesus as the center of all creation and redemption, written to remind believers in Colossae who Jesus truly is.

The church in Colossae was likely facing confusion about Jesus’ identity, possibly influenced by local philosophies that elevated spiritual beings or downplayed Christ’s uniqueness. Paul places this hymn early in the letter to reframe their understanding: the God of the Bible isn’t distant or layered with intermediaries - He has fully revealed Himself in Jesus. By declaring that all things were created through and for Christ, Paul affirms His supremacy over every power, visible or invisible.

This is a bold claim in a world that worshipped various rulers and spiritual forces. Saying 'all things were created through him and for him' leaves no room for rivals: Jesus is the source, goal, and sustaining power of everything.

The Cosmic Supremacy of Christ in Creation and Doctrine

Building on the hymn's declaration of Christ’s centrality, Colossians 1:16 dives deep into the theological foundation of creation itself - affirming that Jesus is not only the agent but also the purpose and sustaining power behind all that exists.

The phrase 'by him all things were created' points to *creatio ex nihilo* - creation out of nothing - through the Son, a concept rooted in Genesis 1 but now revealed as accomplished through Christ. The Greek prepositions are crucial: 'through' (*dia*) shows Jesus as the active agent of creation, not a passive instrument, while 'for' (*eis*) indicates purpose - everything was made *toward* or *unto* Him, meaning all creation is headed toward fulfilling His purposes. This counters early heresies like Arianism, which claimed Christ was a created being, by showing He existed before creation and was active in making it. Paul’s language also echoes John 1:3: 'All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made,' reinforcing that nothing stands outside Christ’s creative work.

Paul includes 'thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities' - a reference to angelic powers - to emphasize that even the highest spiritual beings were created *by* and *for* Jesus, not alongside or before Him. This touches on protology (the study of origins) and angelology (the study of angels), correcting views that elevated angels as mediators between God and humanity - a problem likely influencing the Colossian church. By stating all things were made 'in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible,' Paul leaves no category untouched, affirming Christ’s total supremacy.

This understanding reshapes how we read Old Testament creation language. For example, Genesis 1 says God created, but now in light of Christ, passages like Psalm 33:6 - 'By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made' - are seen as pointing to the Son, the living Word. The Word who created everything also sustains it (Colossians 1:17), demonstrating Christ's role as the ongoing center of all things.

Jesus isn’t just the starting point of creation - He’s the reason it exists and the force that keeps it from falling apart.

This cosmic vision of Christ’s role prepares the way for understanding His work in redemption - because He made all things and sustains them, He alone has the authority and power to reconcile them back to God, which Paul will go on to describe in verse 20.

All Things Created for Him: The Purpose Behind the Universe

This verse explains why Jesus made everything: all things were created *for him*, giving our world a divine purpose centered on Christ.

To the first readers in Colossae, this was both comforting and countercultural. In a world full of competing gods and spiritual powers, stating that everything was made *for Jesus* established Him as the one all others served. It turned their entire worldview upside down: the invisible powers they feared were actually His creations, made to fulfill His purposes.

The universe isn't random - it was made with a purpose, and that purpose is Jesus.

The phrase 'for him' means creation exists to bring Him glory and fulfill His plans. Just as a painting exists for the artist and a song for the composer, the stars, the oceans, and even angelic beings exist to display Christ's greatness. And because we were made for Him, our lives only make sense when we live for His purposes, not our own. This truth is central to the good news. Jesus is the reason everything exists, including us.

From Creation to New Creation: Christ's Work Across the Story of Scripture

This truth about Christ’s role in creation is the foundation for the entire biblical narrative, connecting the Genesis account to the new creation promised in Revelation.

Colossians 1:16 echoes John 1:3, which says, 'All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made,' showing that Jesus was active in the original creation. Hebrews 1:2 adds that God 'has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world,' confirming that the Son is both Creator and the final authority over all. These verses together form a consistent witness across the Testaments: Christ is not a late addition to God’s plan but the central agent from the very start.

But Paul doesn’t stop at creation - he moves quickly to new creation. In Colossians 1:20, he says God 'through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.' This shows that the One who made all things is now restoring all things. Just as Genesis 1 describes light breaking through darkness, 2 Corinthians 4:6 says, 'God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.' And Revelation 21:5 declares, 'Behold, I am making all things new,' with Jesus as the speaker - tying the original creation to the final renewal. The same power that formed galaxies is now at work transforming hearts.

For everyday life, this means we don’t face our struggles, sins, or relationships in our own strength - Christ, the Creator, is at work in us to renew us. In a church community, it means we treat each other as fellow image-bearers being reshaped by the same Lord, showing patience, grace, and hope. We don’t give up on people or projects because we serve a God who specializes in new beginnings. And in our neighborhoods, living as people shaped by this hope means we bring peace, justice, and care, reflecting the coming renewal of all things.

The same Jesus who spoke the world into being is now speaking new life into broken people, making all things new.

Seeing Jesus as both Creator and Reconciler changes everything: our past, present, and future are held in His hands, and that truth empowers us to live with purpose and hope today.

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