CHRIST Is The Beginning Of Everything

 "HE is the image of the unseen GOD, and for all creation, HE is the firstborn, for, in HIM, all things were created, 

in heaven and on earth,

visible and invisible:

thrones, rulers, authorities, powers...

All was made through HIM and for HIM.

HE is before all

and all things hold together, in HIM.

And HE is the head of the body, that is the Church,

for HE is the first, the first raised from the dead,

that HE may be the first in everything,

for GOD was pleased to let fullness dwell in HIM.

Through HIM, GOD willed to reconcile all things to HIMSELF,

and through HIM, through HIS blood shed on the cross,

GOD establishes peace,

on earth as in heaven." - Colossians 1:15-20 

(Paul shows that the angels or invisible powers whether from Scripture or the storytellers of "gnosis" with their Thrones, Authorities, Principles... are nothing compared with CHRIST.  HE is neither agent nor intermediary of a creative adventure without a true creator.  HE is not one of the saviors of a history rather impersonal: there is only GOD-Creator and in HIM is CHRIST.  See the same idea in Hebrews 1.

In Galatians 4:1-5 Paul recognizes that the history of humanity has been deeply marked by natural and social forces that he does not name.  He also affirms that since the resurrection of JESUS, it is HE who has in hand all the movement of history [Revelations 5:3-5].  Something that may astonish those among us who think all history is the responsibility of humankind.  In one sense, they are right but on condition that they do not forget the Firstborn, the one who has already come to the end of history and of whom we say HE is LORD [Philippians 2:11] of history.

HE is the image of the unseen GOD.  We should not imagine that GOD has a human form beyond the clouds, and that JESUS is HIS image; human creature is the image of GOD, but GOD is not in the image of human creature.

In all that HE is and in all that HE does, CHRIST among us is the perfect image of the FATHER and of HIS mercy:  HIS actions reveal GOD's way of thinking and acting.  Already before HE became man, the Son of GOD existed in GOD, as the eternal and invisible image of GOD eternal and invisible, the radiance of the glory of the FATHER [Hebrews 1:3], the Expression or Word of GOD [John 1:1].

For all creation HE is the firstborn.  We take this word in its biblical sense.  HE is not the first of many creatures, but the one who has a place apart.  In HIS human nature, CHRIST is a Galilean Jew, a descendant of David.  HIS person, however, is rooted in GOD and is presented to us as the model and the firstborn not of people but of all creation.

All was made through HIM: John 1:1 and Hebrews 1:2.

And was the first raised...  Paul says more precisely "and as the first fruits offered to GOD, was raised" [as in Corinthians 15:23].  HE has not come only for the forgiveness of sins, but for a "passover," a passage from death to life, and HIS Resurrection after HIS total surrendering to HIS FATHER was a first necessary step so that we too would have a resurrection.

GOD was pleased to let fullness dwell in HIM who is the only bridge between GOD and the universe.  The fullness of GOD is in HIM to be communicated to the universe, and the fullness of the universe will be found in HIM when all human beings are reconciled and reunited in HIM.

GOD willed to reconcile.  Once again the work of CHRIST is presented as reconciliation: reconciliation between people [2 Corinthians 5:17-21] and reconciliation of the whole of creation)

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