"First-born"(Gr. prototokos) may denote either priority in time or supremacy in rank (cf. v. 18; Exod. 4:22; Ps. 89:27; Rom. 8:29; Heb. 1:6; Rev. 1:15). It may also denote both of these qualities. Both seem to be in view here. Christ was before all creation in time, and He is over all creation in authority. In view of the context (vv. 16-20), the major emphasis seems to be on His sovereignty, however.44What "first-born"does notmean is that Christ was the first created being, which Jehovah's Witnesses teach. This is clear because verses 16-18 state that Christ existed before all things and is the Creator Himself. Other passages also affirm His responsibility for creation (cf. John 1:3; 3:16; Rom. 8:29; Heb. 1:6; 11:28; 12:23).45
Christ is the originatorof creation ("in Him,"v. 16a). All things--in every place, of every sort, and of every rank--originated with Him. God mediated the life of the entire universe through His Son (cf. John 1:3, 10). He is the architect of creation. Paul listed various ranks of angelic beings, namely invisible rulers and authorities. He may have been using the terminology of the false teachers who taught many gradations within the angelic sphere,46or these gradations really do exist. In Gnosticism, and in its primitive development in Colosse, angels received veneration depending on their supposed rank. Probably ranks of heavenly powers are in view here (v. 16).47Thus Paul claimed that Christ is superior to all angelic beings (cf. Heb. 1:1-14).
"If it is asked whether the spiritual forces which Christ vanquished on the Cross are to be regarded as personal or impersonal, the answer is probably both.' Whatever forces there are, of either kind, that hold human souls in bondage, Christ has shown Himself to be their Master, and those who are united to Him by faith need have no fear of them."48
Christ is the agentof creation ("through Him,"v. 16b). He accomplished creation (cf. John 1:3; Heb. 1:2). He is the builder of the creation.
Christ is the goalof creation ("for Him,"v. 16b). History is moving toward a goal when the whole created universe will glorify Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 15:25; Phil. 2:10-11; Rev. 19:16).49
"Several steps are involved in the construction of a substantial building. First, an architect is obtained to design the building and prepare plans and specifications in accordance with the expressed desires of the owner. Then the plans are submitted for bids by builders or contractors, and a builder secured. After the completion of the edifice, it is occupied by the owner and devoted to its intended use. Our Lord is not only the builder of the universe; He is also its architect and owner. All things have been created in Him(the eternal plans for the creation abide in Him), by Him(He acted as builder), and for Him(the creation belongs to Him and is to reflect His glory)."50
"For centuries, the Greek philosophers had taught that everything needed a primary cause, an instrumental cause, and a final cause. The primary cause is the plan, the instrumental cause the power, and the final cause the purpose. When it comes to Creation, Jesus Christ is the primary cause (He planned it), the instrumental cause (He produced it), and the final cause (He did it for His own pleasure)."51
Paul used the verb "created"twice in verse 16. In the first instance it is in the Greek aorist tense and refers to creation as an act. In the second it is in the Greek perfect tense picturing ". . . the universe as still remaining the monument and proof of His creative might."52
Christ is the antecedentof creation ("before all things,"v. 17a). This revelation clearly separates Christ from every created entity. "He"has the force of "He and no other"in the Greek text. The word is an intensive pronoun. He is before all temporally (preexistent) and authoritatively (sovereign).53This assertion, combined with the earlier one that He is the first-born of all creation (v. 15b), proves that Christ is no creature. If He were, He would have had to create Himself. To do that He would have had to exist before He existed, which is absurd and impossible.
"The phrase before all things' sums up the essence of His designation as Firstborn before all creation' and excludes any possibility of interpreting that designation to mean that He Himself is part of the created order (albeit the first and chief part)."54
Christ is the sustainerof creation ("hold together,"v. 17b). Christ is the Person who preserves and maintains the existence of what He has created.
"He is the principle of cohesion in the universe. He impresses upon creation that unity and solidarity which makes it a cosmos instead of a chaos."55
"So the thought passes from creation to preservation."56
Verse 17 summs up the thought of verses 15-16 and completes the statement of Christ's relation to creation.
