Parallel Verses
An Understandable Version
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn One [i.e., who takes preeminence] over all that is created.
New American Standard Bible
King James Version
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Holman Bible
the firstborn over all creation.
International Standard Version
The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
A Conservative Version
who is an image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
American Standard Version
who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
Amplified
He is the exact living image [the essential manifestation] of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible], the firstborn [the preeminent one, the sovereign, and the originator] of all creation.
Anderson New Testament
who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature;
Bible in Basic English
Who is the image of the unseen God and existed before all living things;
Common New Testament
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Daniel Mace New Testament
he is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of the whole creation.
Darby Translation
who is image of the invisible God, firstborn of all creation;
Godbey New Testament
who is the image of the invisible God, being the first begotten of all creation,
Goodspeed New Testament
He is a likeness of the unseen God, born before any creature,
John Wesley New Testament
Who is the image of the invisible God, the first begotten of every creature.
Julia Smith Translation
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation:
King James 2000
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation:
Lexham Expanded Bible
who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,
Modern King James verseion
who is the image of the invisible God, the First-born of all creation.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
which is the image of the invisible God, first begotten of all creatures:
Moffatt New Testament
He is the likeness of the unseen God, born first before all the creation ??16 for it was by him that all things were created both in heaven and on earth, both the seen and the unseen, including Thrones, angelic Lords, celestial Powers and Rulers; all things have been created by him and for him;
Montgomery New Testament
He is a visible image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation;
NET Bible
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,
New Heart English Bible
who is the image of the invisible God, preeminent over all creation.
Noyes New Testament
who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of the whole creation;
Sawyer New Testament
who is the likeness of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation,
The Emphasized Bible
Who, is an image of the unseen God, Firstborn of all creation, -
Thomas Haweis New Testament
Who is the image of the invisible God, the prime author of all creation:
Twentieth Century New Testament
For Christ is the very incarnation of the invisible God-- First-born and Head of all creation;
Webster
Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of every creature:
Weymouth New Testament
Christ is the visible representation of the invisible God, the Firstborn and Lord of all creation.
Williams New Testament
Yes, He is the exact likeness of the unseen God, His first-born Son who existed before any created thing,
World English Bible
who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
Worrell New Testament
Who is the image of the invisible God, Primal Source of all creation;
Worsley New Testament
Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of the whole creation:
Youngs Literal Translation
who is the image of the invisible God, first-born of all creation,
Themes
Birthright » An honorable title
Body » Jesus Christ being the head of the body (the church)
Christ » Heal persecution of » Testimony of the apostles
Creation » Everything being created by the word of God (jesus Christ)
Divinity » Of Christ » Testimony of the apostles
Glory of Christ » As the first-born
Glory of Christ » As the image of God
Firstborn » Birthright of the » Honorable distinction of
Image » Figurative » Christ, of God
divine Image » In saints » Of God
Jesus Christ » Preexistence of
Jesus Christ » Jesus Christ existing before all things
Topics
Interlinear
Devotionals
Devotionals about Colossians 1:15
Devotionals containing Colossians 1:15
References
American
Easton
Fausets
Hastings
Morish
Smith
Word Count of 37 Translations in Colossians 1:15
Images Colossians 1:15
Prayers for Colossians 1:15
Verse Info
Context Readings
Prayer For Maturity Based On Christ's Preeminence
14 through whom we receive redemption [i.e., are bought back from Satan], which is the forgiveness of [our] sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn One [i.e., who takes preeminence] over all that is created. 16 For all things were created by Him; things in heaven and on earth; things visible and invisible, whether they are thrones [i.e., reigning beings], or lords, or rulers or authorities. [Note: "Authorities" here may refer to angelic beings]. All things were created by Him and for Him.
Phrases
Names
Cross References
John 1:14
[Eventually] this Word became a human being and lived among us [Note: The word "lived" here refers to pitching a temporary tent]. (And we saw His splendor; such splendor as belongs to the Father's only Son), full of God's favor and truth.
2 Corinthians 4:4
For the god of this world [i.e., Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they would not see the light of the Gospel of the splendor of Christ, who is the image of God.
Hebrews 1:3
This Son expresses the radiance of God's splendor and represents His very Being, and He sustains everything by His powerful word. After He had provided cleansing for [man's] sins, He sat down at the right side of the Majesty [i.e., God] on high [i.e., in heaven].
John 1:1
The Word [already] existed in the beginning [of time]. [Note: This is a reference to the preexistence of Jesus. See verse 14]. And the Word was with God and the Word was [what] God [was].
John 1:18
No one has ever seen God [i.e., His full splendor], but God, the only conceived [and eventually born Son], who is at the Father's side, has shown us who He is.
John 3:16
For God loved the world [of sinners] so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that every person who believes in Him would not [have to] be destroyed, but have never ending life.
John 14:9
Jesus replied to him, "Have I been with you men all this time, and [still] you do not know me, Philip? The person who has seen me, has [also] seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Romans 8:29
For [that class of] persons whom God knew beforehand He also predetermined to become conformed to the [spiritual] likeness of His Son, so that He could be the firstborn One among [His] many brothers [i.e., so He could be the preeminent example to all His followers. See Heb. 2:11].
Philippians 2:6
He existed in the form of God [i.e., He shared God's very nature], but did not consider [remaining] equal with God something [to continue] to hold onto.
1 Timothy 1:17
Now, may there be honor and praise forever and ever to the eternal King, the immortal, invisible, only God. May it be so.
Revelation 3:14
"Write [this] to the angel of the church at Laodicia: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the source [or, ruler] of God's creation [See John 1:3; Heb. 1:1-2]:
John 15:24
If I had not performed the [miraculous] deeds among them which no one else had done, they would not be guilty of sinning. But now they have both seen and hated both me and my Father.
2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said [Gen. 1:3], "Light will shine out of darkness," has [also] shone in our hearts to provide [us with] the light of the knowledge of God's splendor [as it shines] on the face of Christ. [Note: This allusion to "splendor shining on Christ's face" may be a continuation of the analogy used in 3:13].
Colossians 1:13
He rescued us from the domain of [spiritual] darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son whom He loves,
Colossians 1:16-17
For all things were created by Him; things in heaven and on earth; things visible and invisible, whether they are thrones [i.e., reigning beings], or lords, or rulers or authorities. [Note: "Authorities" here may refer to angelic beings]. All things were created by Him and for Him.
1 Timothy 6:16
He alone possesses immortality [Note: That is, only God possesses an eternal existence, with neither beginning nor ending. See John 5:26], and lives in unapproachable light. No one has seen Him, or can see Him. May there be honor and never ending power to Him. May it be so.
Hebrews 1:6
And again, when God sent the Firstborn One [i.e., Jesus. See Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:15, 18; Rev. 1:5] into the world, He said [Deut. 32:43 LXX], "And all of God's angels should worship Him."
Hebrews 11:27
By [having] faith, he left Egypt, not being afraid of the king's anger, for he endured [all the rigors of wandering in the desert] because he could see the invisible God.