And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Relation of Christ to the Church, the new creation, as its Originator.
He - emphatic х Autos (G846)], HIMSELF. Not angels: in opposition to the false doctrine concerning angel-worship, and the power of OEons, imaginary spirit-emanations from God (Colossians 2:10; Colossians 2:18). Head of the body, the church. The church is His body by virtue of His entering into communion corporeally with human nature (Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 4:15-16). The One who is Head of all things and beings by creation is also, by being "the first-born from the dead," and so the "first-fruits" of the new creation among men, Head of the Church.
Who is - i:e., seeing that He is: this begins a new paragraph. As the former paragraph, relating to His originating the physical creation, began with "Who is" (Colossians 1:15), so this, relating to His originating the new creation, begins with "Who is:" a parenthesis (note, Colossians 1:16), including from "all things were created by Him" to "Head of the body, the Church:" the last clause prepares the transition to "Who is the beginning," etc. The head of kings and high priests was anointed, as the seat of the faculties, the fountain of dignity, and original of all the members (according to Hebrew etymology,`Abarbanel,' in Pearson, 'Creed,' Article 2:, p. 175, note). So Jesus by His unction was designated as the Head of the body, the Church.
The beginning - namely, of the new creation, as of the old (Proverbs 8:22; John 1:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17: cf. Revelation 1:8): the beginning of the Church of the first-born (Hebrews 12:23), being Himself "the first-born from х ek (G1537): not merely of] the dead;" He is not called the first that rose, but 'the first-begotten out of the dead,' rising with a new birth into life (Romans 6:9; Acts 26:23; Acts 3:15, 'Prince-leader of life' х archeegos (G747), akin to archee (G746) here]. Christ's primogeniture is threefold:
(1) From eternity the "first-begotten" of the Father (Colossians 1:15);
(2) The first-born of His mother (Matthew 1:25);
(3) The Head of the Church, mystically begotten of the Father, to a new life, at His resurrection, which is His "regeneration," even as His people's coming resurrection will be their "regeneration" (i:e., the resurrection which, begun in the soul, shall extend to the body and to the whole creation (Matthew 19:28; Acts 13:33; Romans 8:11; Romans 8:21-23; Revelation 1:5).
Sonship and resurrection are similarly connected (Luke 20:36; Romans 1:4; 1 John 3:2). Christ by rising from the dead, is the efficient cause (1 Corinthians 15:20-23), as having obtained the power; the exemplary cause, as being the pattern (Micah 2:13; Romans 6:5; Philippians 3:21) of our resurrection: the resurrection of "the Head" involves consequentially that of the members.
That in all things. He resumes the "all things," Colossians 1:20.
He might have the pre-eminence, х geneetai (G1096) en (G1722) pasin (G3956) autos (G846) prooteuoon (G4409)] - 'He HIMSELF (and none other) may become the One holding the first place.' Both ideas are included-priority in time and priority in dignity: now in the regenerated world, as before in the world of creation (Colossians 1:15; Psalms 89:27; John 3:13).