What do you make of Colossians 1:15-16?
At first glance it is problematic for Christians but I don't think it is....
If you take the 15th verse out of context....
Here's the text:
15) The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16) For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
What do you make of the section I have highlighted in bold?
Many use this to argue that Jesus is a created being.
And yes, at first glance it may appear to say that Jesus is a created being BUT this would be at odds with the 16th verse that comes after it, indeed it is at odds with many other verses that can be found in the bible
When studying the bible things have to be taken in context
I think it is talking of the humanity of Jesus
I think it means that Jesus as a human is pre-eminent over all whom he created in his capacity as The Word
I also think that "Firstborn" refers to Jesus being the most favoured and most senior being on Earth
And that "is the image of the invisible God" means that he is the image of God - like an avatar, or an incarnation
So, what verse 15 really says is that "Jesus is the incarnation of God and the most senior of all humans"
It is talking about him in terms of his divinity but also in terms of his humanity, it's saying he is both man and God
At first glance it is problematic for Christians but I don't think it is....
If you take the 15th verse out of context....
Here's the text:
15) The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
16) For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.
What do you make of the section I have highlighted in bold?
Many use this to argue that Jesus is a created being.
And yes, at first glance it may appear to say that Jesus is a created being BUT this would be at odds with the 16th verse that comes after it, indeed it is at odds with many other verses that can be found in the bible
When studying the bible things have to be taken in context
I think it is talking of the humanity of Jesus
I think it means that Jesus as a human is pre-eminent over all whom he created in his capacity as The Word
I also think that "Firstborn" refers to Jesus being the most favoured and most senior being on Earth
And that "is the image of the invisible God" means that he is the image of God - like an avatar, or an incarnation
So, what verse 15 really says is that "Jesus is the incarnation of God and the most senior of all humans"
It is talking about him in terms of his divinity but also in terms of his humanity, it's saying he is both man and God