1. In relation to God the Father 1:15a - Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

Resource > Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable) > Colossians > Exposition > II. EXPLANATION OF THE PERSON AND WORK OF CHRIST 1:15-29 > A. The preeminent person of Christ 1:15-20 > 1. In relation to God the Father 1:15a

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The concept of "image"involves three things: likeness (Christ is the exact likeness of God, a mirror image [cf. Heb. 1:3]), representation (Christ represents God to us), and manifestation (Christ makes God known to us [cf. John 1:18]).⁴¹While God made man in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), Christ isthe image of God (cf. John 1:18; 14:8-9; 2 Cor. 4:4).

The Greek word translated "image"(eikon), ". . . does not imply a weakening or a feeble copy of something. It implies the illumination of its inner core and essence."⁴²

"To call Christ the image of God is to say that in Him the being and nature of God have been perfectly manifested--that in Him the invisible has become visible."⁴³