For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
For, х hoti (G3754)] - 'because:' the proof that He is not included in the things created, but is the "first-begotten" before "every creature" (Colossians 1:15); begotten as 'the Son of God's love' (Colossians 1:13) antecedently to every other emanation; 'because' all other emanations came from Him: whatever was created, was created by Him.
By him, х en (G1722)] - 'in Him:' as the creative center, the conditional, all-including cause, in and on whom creation rests for its realization: the creation of all things BY Him х di' (G1223) autou (G846)], as the mediating cause, follows. God revealed Himself in the Son, the Word, before all created existence (Colossians 1:15). The Divine Word carries IN Himself the archetypes of all existences, so that 'IN Him all things in heaven and earth were created.' 'In Him' indicates that the Word is the ideal ground of all existence; "by Him," that He is the instrument of actually realizing the divine idea (Neander). His essential nature as the Word of the Father is not a mere appendage of His incarnation, but the ground of it. The original relation of the Eternal Word to men 'made in His image' (Genesis 1:27), is the source of His forming, in His incarnation, the new relation whereby He restores them to His lost image. 'In Him' implies something prior to "by" and "for Him" presently after: the three propositions mark in succession the beginning, the progress, and the end (Bengel). The conditional, the mediating, and the final cause.
All things, х ta (G3588) panta (G3956)] - 'the universe of things.' The new creation is not meant (as Socinians interpret); for angels, who are included in the catalogue, were not new created by Christ: he does not speak of the new creation until Colossians 1:18. The creation of 'the things in the heavens' (so Greek) includes that of the heavens themselves: the former are named, since the inhabitants are more noble than their dwellings. Heaven and earth, and all that is in them (1 Chronicles 29:11; Nehemiah 9:6; Ephesians 1:10; Revelation 10:6).
Invisible - the world of spirits.
Thrones, or dominions - lordships; the spirits round the throne: "thrones" are the greatest; lordships the lowest.
Principalities, or powers, х archai (G746), exousiai (G1849)] - 'rules or authorities:' the former are stronger than the latter (cf. Ephesians 1:21, where the order of angelic ranks is probably descensive, lordship being lowest). The latter pair refer to offices in respect to God's creatures: 'thrones and dominions,' exalted relation to God, they being the chariots on which He rides, displaying His glory (Psalms 68:17).
Were - [distinguish the Greek aorist, ektisthee (G2936), which precedes, from the perfect, ektistai (G2936), here] - 'have been created.' In the former the creation was viewed as a past act at a point of time; here it is viewed as the permanent result eternally continuing. By him - the instrumental Agent (John 1:3).
For him - the grand End of creation: the final as well as the efficient cause (Proverbs 16:4; Revelation 4:11). Christ in this has God's prerogative (Romans 11:36). Lachmann's punctuation of Colossians 1:15-18 is best, whereby "Who is the image," etc., the "first-born of every creature," (Colossians 1:15) answers to "who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead" (Colossians 1:18), the whole forming one sentence with ("All things were created by Him, and for Him: and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist: and He is the Head of the body, the Church") intervening as a parenthesis. Thus Paul puts first the origination by Him of the natural creation; secondly, of the new creation. The parenthesis falls into four clauses, two and two: the former two support the first assertion, "the first-born of every creature;" the latter two prepare us for "the first-born from the dead:" the former two correspond to the latter two in their form - "All things by Him ... and He is," and "by Him all things ... and He is."