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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Colossians 1:17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/colossians/1-17.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/19/51_Col_01_17.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Colossians 1:17 - The Supremacy of Christ" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." /><script type="application/javascript" 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class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/colossians/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/colossians/1.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/colossians/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/colossians/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/colossians/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/colossians/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/colossians/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/colossians/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/colossians/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/colossians/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/colossians/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/colossians/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />And He is before all things, And in Him all things hold together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/colossians/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />And He Himself existed <i>and</i> is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [His is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.]<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/colossians/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He is before all things, and by him all things hold together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/colossians/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/colossians/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/colossians/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />God's Son was before all else, and by him everything is held together. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/colossians/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/colossians/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He existed before everything and holds everything together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/colossians/1.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />Christ existed before all things, and in union with him all things have their proper place. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/colossians/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He himself existed before anything else did, and he holds all things together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/colossians/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/colossians/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/colossians/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/colossians/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/colossians/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />And HE IS before all things and in and through Him the universe is a harmonious whole.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/colossians/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He is before all things, and in him all things are held together. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/colossians/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and He is before all, and all things have consisted in Him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/colossians/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/colossians/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> and himself is before all, and the all things in him have consisted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/colossians/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And he is before all, and all things have been established by him.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/colossians/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he is before all, and by him all things consist. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/colossians/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he is before all, and in him all things continue.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/colossians/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/colossians/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/colossians/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And he is before all things, and by him all things are sustained.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/colossians/1.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />And he is The One who is before all, and all things exist by him.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/colossians/1.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />and he is before all things, and by him all things consist:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/colossians/1.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />and he before all things, and all things consist in him:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/colossians/1.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />and he is before all, and by him all things subsist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/colossians/1.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />and by him all things consist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/colossians/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />And HE IS before all things and in and through Him the universe is a harmonious whole.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/colossians/1.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />and He is before all things, and in Him all things have held together.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/colossians/1.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />He is before all, and by Him all <i>things</i> subsist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/colossians/1-17.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7q-K-qsfihQ?start=148" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/colossians/1.htm">The Supremacy of Christ</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">16</span>For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. <span class="reftext">17</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: Kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. "></a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autos (PPro-NM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">He</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">is</a> <a href="/greek/4253.htm" title="4253: pro (Prep) -- A primary preposition; fore, i.e. In front of, prior to.">before</a> <a href="/greek/3956.htm" title="3956: pantōn (Adj-GNP) -- All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.">all things,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">in</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autō (PPro-DM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">Him</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: ta (Art-NNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/3956.htm" title="3956: panta (Adj-NNP) -- All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.">all things</a> <a href="/greek/4921.htm" title="4921: synestēken (V-RIA-3S) -- To place together, commend, prove, exhibit; instrans: I stand with; To be composed of, cohere. ">hold together.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">18</span>And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/1-1.htm">John 1:1-3</a></span><br />In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. / He was with God in the beginning. / Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/1-3.htm">Hebrews 1:3</a></span><br />The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/revelation/4-11.htm">Revelation 4:11</a></span><br />“Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/8-6.htm">1 Corinthians 8:6</a></span><br />yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/1-22.htm">Ephesians 1:22-23</a></span><br />And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church, / which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/hebrews/1-10.htm">Hebrews 1:10-12</a></span><br />And: “In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. / They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. / You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed; but You remain the same, and Your years will never end.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/8-58.htm">John 8:58</a></span><br />“Truly, truly, I tell you,” Jesus declared, “before Abraham was born, I am!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/11-36.htm">Romans 11:36</a></span><br />For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/15-28.htm">1 Corinthians 15:28</a></span><br />And when all things have been subjected to Him, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put all things under Him, so that God may be all in all.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ephesians/4-10.htm">Ephesians 4:10</a></span><br />He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/2-9.htm">Philippians 2:9-11</a></span><br />Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, / that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/17-28.htm">Acts 17:28</a></span><br />‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are His offspring.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/44-24.htm">Isaiah 44:24</a></span><br />Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/proverbs/8-22.htm">Proverbs 8:22-31</a></span><br />The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old. / From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began. / When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/33-6.htm">Psalm 33:6</a></span><br />By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2"> And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.</p><p class="hdg">he.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/colossians/1-15.htm">Colossians 1:15</a></b></br> Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/8-22.htm">Proverbs 8:22,23</a></b></br> The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/43-11.htm">Isaiah 43:11-13</a></b></br> I, <i>even</i> I, <i>am</i> the LORD; and beside me <i>there is</i> no saviour… </p><p class="hdg">and by.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_samuel/2-8.htm">1 Samuel 2:8</a></b></br> He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, <i>and</i> lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set <i>them</i> among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth <i>are</i> the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/75-3.htm">Psalm 75:3</a></b></br> The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/john/5-17.htm">John 5:17,18</a></b></br> But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_corinthians/12-14.htm">Consist</a> <a href="/acts/23-6.htm">Consisted</a> <a href="/1_peter/3-8.htm">Harmonious</a> <a href="/philippians/4-15.htm">Held</a> <a href="/philippians/4-9.htm">Hold</a> <a href="/2_corinthians/3-8.htm">Subsist</a> <a href="/philippians/4-6.htm">Together</a> <a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Universe</a> <a href="/colossians/1-6.htm">Whole</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/leviticus/2-4.htm">Consist</a> <a href="/numbers/3-36.htm">Consisted</a> <a href="/1_peter/3-8.htm">Harmonious</a> <a href="/1_timothy/5-17.htm">Held</a> <a href="/colossians/2-19.htm">Hold</a> <a href="/psalms/101-7.htm">Subsist</a> <a href="/colossians/2-2.htm">Together</a> <a href="/colossians/1-20.htm">Universe</a> <a href="/colossians/1-19.htm">Whole</a><div class="vheading2">Colossians 1</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/1-1.htm">After salutation Paul thanks God for the Colossians' faith;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/1-7.htm">confirms the doctrine of Epaphras;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">9. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/1-9.htm">prays further for their increase in grace;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/1-14.htm">describes the supremacy of Christ;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">21. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/colossians/1-21.htm">encourages them to receive Jesus Christ, and commends his own ministry.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/colossians/1.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/colossians/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/colossians/1.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>He is before all things</b><br>This phrase emphasizes the preexistence and supremacy of Christ. It affirms that Jesus existed before the creation of the world, highlighting His divine nature. This aligns with <a href="/john/1.htm">John 1:1-3</a>, where it is stated that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The concept of Christ's preexistence is crucial in understanding His role in creation and His authority over it. Historically, this counters the Gnostic belief prevalent in Colossae that diminished Christ's divine status. Theologically, it underscores the eternal nature of Christ, affirming His deity and His role as the Alpha, as seen in <a href="/revelation/22-13.htm">Revelation 22:13</a>.<p><b>and in Him all things hold together</b><br>This phrase speaks to Christ's sustaining power over the universe. It suggests that not only did Christ create all things, but He also maintains and upholds them. This is echoed in <a href="/hebrews/1-3.htm">Hebrews 1:3</a>, which describes Christ as "sustaining all things by His powerful word." The idea of Christ holding all things together implies His ongoing involvement in creation, countering any deistic view that God is detached from the world. It also reflects the belief that Christ is the cohesive force in the universe, ensuring order and purpose. This sustaining power is a testament to His omnipotence and His intimate relationship with creation, reinforcing His role as the cosmic Christ who is both transcendent and immanent.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The central figure in this verse, Jesus is described as preeminent and sustaining all creation. This highlights His divine nature and role in the universe.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/c/colossae.htm">Colossae</a></b><br>The city where the recipients of this letter lived. It was a small city in Asia Minor, significant for its diverse cultural and religious influences.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/apostle_paul.htm">Apostle Paul</a></b><br>The author of the letter to the Colossians, Paul writes to address theological issues and encourage the believers in their faith.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_colossian_church.htm">The Colossian Church</a></b><br>The community of believers in Colossae who were facing challenges from false teachings and needed reassurance of Christ's supremacy.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/c/creation.htm">Creation</a></b><br>The entirety of the universe, which is sustained by Christ, emphasizing His authority and power over all things.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/c/christ's_preeminence.htm">Christ's Preeminence</a></b><br>Recognize that Jesus is not just a part of creation but is before all things, affirming His divine nature and eternal existence.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/sustainer_of_all.htm">Sustainer of All</a></b><br>Understand that Jesus is actively involved in holding the universe together, which should bring comfort and assurance in His control over our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/d/dependence_on_christ.htm">Dependence on Christ</a></b><br>As believers, we should rely on Jesus for strength and guidance, knowing that He is the source of all stability and coherence in our lives.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/c/combatting_false_teachings.htm">Combatting False Teachings</a></b><br>Use the truth of Christ's supremacy to refute any teachings that diminish His role or divinity, as was necessary for the Colossian church.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/w/worship_and_reverence.htm">Worship and Reverence</a></b><br>Our response to Christ's preeminence should be one of worship and reverence, acknowledging His authority and power in all aspects of life.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_colossians_1.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Colossians 1</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/how_does_colossians_1_17_align_with_physics.htm">Colossians 1:17 – If “in him all things hold together,” how does this align with modern physics that explains cohesion through natural forces?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/is_he_before_all_things.htm">Is he before all things?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_'god_of_the_gaps'_concept.htm">What is the "God of the gaps" concept?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_was_the_haystack_prayer_meeting_important.htm">Is he before all things?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/colossians/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(17) <span class= "bld">He is before all things.</span>--The words "He is" are both emphatic. He, and He only, is; all else is created. It is impossible not to refer to the "I am" of Eternal existence, as claimed by our Lord for Himself. "Before Abraham was, I am" (<a href="/john/8-58.htm" title="Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Before Abraham was, I am.">John 8:58</a>; comp. also <a href="/john/1-15.htm" title="John bore witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.">John 1:15</a>). Hence the word "before" should be taken, not of supreme dignity, but of pre-existence.<p><span class= "bld">By him all things consist.</span>--That is, <span class= "ital">hold together in unity, </span>obeying the primaeval law of their being. In this clause is attributed to our Lord, not only the creative act, but also the constant sustaining power, "in which all lives and moves and has its being," and which, even less than the creative agency, can be supposed to be a derivative and finite power, such as that of the <span class= "ital">Demiurgus</span> of Gnostic speculation.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/colossians/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 17.</span> <p><span class="note_emph">(d)</span> All things through Him and unto Him have been created; <p><span class="note_emph">(e)</span> And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. <p><span class="cmt_subheading">II.</span> Ver. 18. . . . <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/colossians/1-17.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">He</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτός</span> <span class="translit">(autos)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative Masculine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐστιν</span> <span class="translit">(estin)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> </span><span class="str2">I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before</span><br /><span class="grk">πρὸ</span> <span class="translit">(pro)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4253.htm">Strong's 4253: </a> </span><span class="str2">A primary preposition; 'fore', i.e. In front of, prior to.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">all things,</span><br /><span class="grk">πάντων</span> <span class="translit">(pantōn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Genitive Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> </span><span class="str2">All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and</span><br /><span class="grk">καὶ</span> <span class="translit">(kai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> </span><span class="str2">And, even, also, namely. </span><br /><br /><span class="word">in</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐν</span> <span class="translit">(en)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> </span><span class="str2">In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Him</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐτῷ</span> <span class="translit">(autō)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">all things</span><br /><span class="grk">πάντα</span> <span class="translit">(panta)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> </span><span class="str2">All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">hold together.</span><br /><span class="grk">συνέστηκεν</span> <span class="translit">(synestēken)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_4921.htm">Strong's 4921: </a> </span><span class="str2">To place together, commend, prove, exhibit; instrans: I stand with; To be composed of, cohere. </span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/colossians/1-17.htm">Colossians 1:17 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/colossians/1-17.htm">Colossians 1:17 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/colossians/1-17.htm">Colossians 1:17 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/colossians/1-17.htm">Colossians 1:17 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/colossians/1-17.htm">Colossians 1:17 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/colossians/1-17.htm">Colossians 1:17 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/colossians/1-17.htm">Colossians 1:17 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/colossians/1-17.htm">Colossians 1:17 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/colossians/1-17.htm">Colossians 1:17 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/colossians/1-17.htm">Colossians 1:17 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/colossians/1-17.htm">NT Letters: Colossians 1:17 He is before all things and (Coloss. Col Co) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/colossians/1-16.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Colossians 1:16"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Colossians 1:16" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/colossians/1-18.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Colossians 1:18"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Colossians 1:18" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>