Colossians 1:18, commentary and pictures

Christ is the head of the body, the church, the beginning and the first to rise from the dead, so that He holds the first place in the church and in all things. He is before all things as the one by whom and for whom all things in heaven and earth were created and by whom all things hold together, with all the fullness of the Father dwelling in Him. Through the blood of His cross He made peace and reconciles all things, redeeming sinners by bearing their punishment and presenting holy those who continue grounded in the faith. He alone is Head, so no human leader, minister, or organization may take His place or control other minds as though holding His authority. Under Him believers are joined as living members of one body, to be of one mind and heart with no division, revealing His love and carrying His work of conversion to the world.

Verse Words and Context

The first chapter where the verse stands lays out both the privileges and the responsibilities of the Christian life as unending growth in spirituality through Christ, yielding the will to be led and taught of God with development without limit, being filled with the knowledge of His will, bearing fruit in every good work, being strengthened unto patience with joyfulness, receiving redemption and forgiveness through His blood, being delivered from darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son, and, by continuing grounded in the faith and unmoved from the hope of the gospel, being presented holy and unblameable in glory. It declares that Christ 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 and first place. This great plan of redemption is to be received with earnest thanksgiving and calls for constant watchfulness unto prayer, for sanctification of body, soul, and spirit, for purification through the washing of the Word, and for remaining grounded and settled in the faith. Faith which works by love and purifies the soul keeps believers from being moved away from the hope of the gospel.

The body is the church, and believers individually are members and parts of that body joined to Christ as its head. Every believer, even the least, is a vital member to be united with the body through a living connection with Christ, a union that centers believers in Him, makes their work serve God and bring sinners to conversion, and makes the church a united body displaying His excellence. Membership in His kingdom is not gained by the highest line of earthly education, by forms and ceremonies, by large study of books, or by human learning, but by knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ, which is life eternal. Those so joined are the elect sons of God, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people called out of darkness into marvelous light to show forth His praises. The honor of Christ is concerned in the perfection of each individual character, for each member is a part of Christ Himself, given probationary time secured by His suffering even unto the cruelest death to form character through His sufficiency, that His glory should become the member's glory.

To set a view against the faith of the church is to separate from the body and to be no longer under His control as Head. The beginning and firstborn from the dead means He is the first to rise from the dead. He is risen and alive, no longer lying in the tomb or in Joseph's tomb, not a dead Saviour, and His people can depend on Him to bear and carry their burdens and to trust Him through difficulty. His supremacy rests with His work in creation as well as with His resurrection, and through His death He makes peace and reconciles, presenting the reconciled holy and blameless when they remain grounded in faith and hope in the gospel.

Preeminence means He is first in the church and in all things, holding first place in everything and supreme over the church and over all things. He is the foundation of every true church and the unfailing source of life, strength, righteousness, and holiness, promising His presence and protection to those who remain faithful and follow His counsel. Those who wear His yoke and learn meekness and humility from Him receive all that He is to them.

Creator Sustainer Reconciler

He is the image of the invisible God, Himself before all things, by whom and for whom all things in heaven and in earth were created, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers, and by whom all things consist and are held together. His headship over the body, the church, rests on this creatorship and sustainership, for as beginning and firstborn from the dead He has first place in all things as the One through whom the universe was made and upheld. In Him dwells all fullness, the fullness of the Father.

As Creator and Head He gave His own life to redeem men and women, bearing the punishment for their sins and paying the price of their redemption. Through His shed blood there is redemption and forgiveness of sins, for He is the heavenly Leader who redeemed His people by His blood and the atoning sacrifice who is able to save completely all who come to Him. His blood shed on the cross is the means of peace and reconciliation.

Through the blood of His cross He makes peace and reconciles all things in earth and in heaven to God. He reconciles those once alienated and enemies by wicked works, in the body of His flesh through death. The end of that reconciliation is to present them holy and unblamable and unreprovable before God, when they continue grounded and settled in the faith and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel preached to every creature.

The Sabbath belongs to Him because He made it and set it apart as a memorial of creation. It points to Him as both Creator and Sanctifier, a sign of His power to make holy all who through Him become part of the Israel of God. It points from the peace lost in Eden to peace restored through the Saviour, and is a delight to those who discern in it His creative and redeeming power.

Receiving this redemption belongs to the great plan of redemption and is to be received with earnest thanksgiving. It calls for constant watchfulness unto prayer, for being sanctified body, soul, and spirit and purified and cleansed through the washing of the Word. It calls for living by faith which works by love and purifies the soul, for being fruitful in every good work, and for remaining grounded and settled in the faith so as not to be moved away from the hope of the gospel.

Sole Head Over All

Christ alone is Head of the body, the church, and He alone holds the responsibility that belongs to its Head. No human being is ever to be set up as a god, and no man is ever to be taken as pattern and guide to decide what to do, for Christ alone is guide. No human leader, president, minister, or church or conference organization may take His place or control other minds as though holding His authority and requiring unlimited obedience, which belongs to Him alone. Reasoning powers have been given to be put to the very best use instead of going to weak, erring fellow mortals for guidance, and unity under Him does not mean consolidation under arbitrary human rule, for each worker retains individual responsibility while working under Christ's leadership. One who sets his views against the faith of the church separates himself from the body and is no longer under Christ's control, while claiming no other name or head shows the unity of the Spirit's testimony about Christ among reformers who had not communicated with one another.

His preeminence means He holds the highest place, supreme over all the angelic host. He was one with the Father before the angels were created, and the honor and authority to command them belonged to Him alone. That authority is what Satan ambitiously sought, envied, and gradually assumed.

He has that preeminence as Head of the body, the church, the beginning and firstborn from the dead, because He is the image of the invisible God, before all things, by whom and for whom all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, principalities and powers were created, by whom all things consist, in whom all fullness dwells, and through whose blood there is redemption and forgiveness of sins and peace and reconciliation of all things in earth and heaven. He reconciles those alienated as enemies by wicked works in the body of His flesh through death to present them holy and unblamable and unreprovable if they continue grounded and settled in the faith and not moved away from the hope of the gospel preached to every creature under heaven. He came to demonstrate the falsity of Satan's claim to the sovereignty of the world and to reassert the original and supreme ownership of God, placing Himself as Restorer and Lifegiver in the enemy's pathway to dispute his right to the souls and bodies of men and women. He planted His cross midway between heaven and earth to wrestle with and overcome the powers of darkness, giving His life for the life of sinners so that Satan the prince of the world was cast out. This calls for earnest thanksgiving and for being sanctified body, soul and spirit, purified and cleansed through the washing of the Word, grounded and settled by faith which works by love and purifies the soul, watching unto prayer, and fruitful in every good work.

As risen Head He stands at the head of His church alive, not lying in Joseph's tomb, no longer in the tomb, not a dead Savior. His people can depend on Him to bear and carry their burdens and can trust Him through difficulty. He is the atoning sacrifice who can save completely all who come to Him, and He lives to intercede for them. Ministers are to draw encouragement from Him as living Head and keep unwavering faith and hope.

He is first in the church and in all things, the foundation of every true church and the unfailing source and dependence of His people. He is the source of life, strength, righteousness, holiness, power and living waters, giving needed grace with wisdom and instruction to those who seek Him, including parents laboring to assure their children's salvation and keep them from temptation. He promises His presence and protection to those who remain faithful and follow His counsel, and those who wear His yoke and learn meekness and humility from Him receive all that He is to them.

Unity Under His Leadership

Christ as living Head joins every believer to Himself as part of one body, and even the least member is vital to that body through a living connection with Him. That union centers believers in Him, makes their work serve God and bring sinners to conversion, and makes the church a united body displaying His excellence. His honor is concerned in the perfection of each individual character, since each member is a part of Himself for whom He suffered even the cruelest death to give probationary time to form character through His sufficiency, that His glory should become the member's glory. Day by day He carries each surrendered member forward step by step in Christian perfection until appearing among the just made perfect, and this requires becoming one in heart and purpose with all differences swept away, arising and shining with the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus instead of floating with tradition and presumptuous fallacies or spending time in controversy.

Under His authority the varied gifts and work of His people are united, for as heavenly Leader who redeemed them by His blood they follow Him rather than human guidance. As great Head He directs the church's many branches, workers, talents and capabilities in united action so that its parts fit together in unity under His oversight, and the work is not ultimately directed by human agents but by Him as Great Master through simple instruments carrying out His mind and will. The body under Him is the gospel ministry organized for proclaiming truth and carrying forward work for sick and well, and medical missionary work joined to it is the arm to the body, bearing to the whole work the same relation the arm bears to the body. As part of the body under Christ the Head it is to be given oneness of respect and decided interest.

The church as His body is the channel through which God communicates His purposes and will, so no servant receives guidance for the whole church while the church is left in darkness, and no individual experience stands apart from or contradicts the church's experience. Instituted by God and entrusted with authority, Scripture, and pastors and teachers to continue His work, it receives those converted to the truth to serve under His direction through its leaders. Members who remain connected to Him as Head can be useful in the church, while those who presumptuously separate themselves do not invalidate the church, which continues its work without them.

When the Holy Spirit controls members, all labor under Christ as one Head over all workers and reveal Him in spirit, word and deed. They show pity, tenderness, love, patience, kindness and long-forbearance, revealing that He dwells within, with a higher standard in speech, ministry and spirituality, refreshed by the water of life and encouraging one another to press forward in the closing work. This healthy increase of unity and love testifies to the world that God sent His Son to die for the redemption of sinners, exalts divine truth, and causes truth to shine as a burning lamp to be understood more and more clearly. The church is designed to reflect to the world the fullness and sufficiency found in Him, constantly receiving of God's bounty and by imparting the same representing the love and beneficence of Christ.

One stands at the head of His people, as ruler whose character is to be represented in labor and association together, so they are to be of one mind, one heart and one spirit, not watching for opportunity to differ or cherishing differences of opinion and keeping them to the front. This requires becoming one in heart and purpose with all differences swept away, as laborers together with God arising and shining instead of floating with tradition and presumptuous fallacies or spending time in controversy. Division dishonors God, and sin turns influence from helping others toward destroying them, while under His rule unity, faith, love and cooperation serve salvation as members receive His divine power and join abilities to share it and bring those under Satan's rule back to loyalty to God.

Standing with Christ as Head and Prince means standing as His subjects to do the work appointed by God, as individual parts joined as His great whole possessing the elements of reconciliation with no schisms in the body. It means standing as a separate and peculiar people rather than enlarging influence by mingling with society or linking with men on political questions. Their citizenship is in heaven, and their distinct calling is to carry God's commandments and the faith of Jesus rather than join political causes, remaining united and embodying reconciliation under Him as Prince and subjects of His kingdom.

Being in sympathy with Him means being in harmony with His Spirit, rejecting faultfinding, jealousy, ridicule, envy and other unconsecrated conduct. Such conduct grieves God's Spirit, discourages the church, separates people from God and weakens the church.

As Head controlling all members of His mystical body, which is the church of the living God, He Himself in infinite mercy works on human hearts effecting spiritual transformations so amazing that angels look on with astonishment and joy. His true followers become partakers of His divine nature in this world, showing the same unselfish love that characterizes the Master, reflecting His glory to the praise of God, illuminating earth's darkness with heaven's radiance, and serving as colaborers with Him in carrying forward redemption. Having suffered even the cruelest death to give probationary time to form character through His sufficiency, that His glory should become the member's glory, He day by day works great changes and carries each surrendered member forward step by step in Christian perfection until appearing among the angels of heaven, the just made perfect, unto the praise and glory of His power.

As Head of the church and firstborn from the dead with preeminence in all things, He calls for surrender of the human will to God in willing obedience to His commands and living for His glory. As Head of the church on earth He requires members to surrender their wills to God in willing obedience, while the Holy Spirit works so every member may develop Christlike character and become an influence for righteousness, God having united the church on earth with the church in heaven. The church is still militant, not yet triumphant, so its members must look to Him rather than to themselves as the one who leads and directs it, and are to be united on earth as God's family cooperating with the church in heaven. Unity under Him as head and divine leader does not mean consolidation under arbitrary human rule, for each worker retains individual responsibility and works under His leadership, trusting His wisdom rather than human wisdom and moving in order as everything in heaven is perfectly ordered.

Mission and Christian Growth

His headship belongs to the work missionary effort is expected to accomplish, committing to human agencies the work of extending the triumphs of the cross from point to point. As authoritative Head He calls everyone who believes in Him to follow His example of self-denial and self-sacrifice by working for the conversion of people threatened and sought to be destroyed by Satan and his vast army. This requires God's people to rally without delay under His blood-stained banner and to continue unceasing warfare against the enemy, pressing the battle even to the gates. Everyone added to the ranks by conversion is to be assigned a post of duty, and everyone should be willing to be or to do anything in this warfare. When church members put forth earnest efforts to advance the message they will live in the joy of the Lord and will meet with success, for triumph always follows decided effort.

Since His ascension He carries forward His work in the world by chosen ambassadors through whom He speaks to men and ministers to their needs. Those called to labor in word and doctrine for the upbuilding of His church hold a position of grave responsibility, beseeching men and women in His stead to be reconciled to God, which they can fulfill only as they receive wisdom and power from above. Under His generalship every member is to do the work allotted to him in the great harvest field, each having a living connection with Him, because true success and all power and efficiency come from God alone. Therefore no one, however responsible his position, is to take glory to himself, but every particle of praise and glory belongs to God, and loving God with all the heart and the neighbor as self means following His example in this humility. His ministers are delegated servants who must rely on Him as chief Shepherd, receiving their commission and wisdom from Him as they carry His work forward on earth.

His followers are to follow His example in carrying salvation's work forward and extending its message to all nations, tongues, and peoples. His people honor Him by giving evidence that they are God's peculiar people, for He alone is to be exalted and honored, and when His ambassadors fail to do this they go backward rather than forward. One stands at the head of His people, so they are to be of one mind, one heart, and one spirit and not stand watching for opportunity to differ or cherish differences of opinion, and His character is to be represented in labor and in association together. The church and its ministry are to work together with medical missionary work in unity under Him, revealing God's salvation. The body under Him is the gospel ministry organized for proclaiming the truth and carrying forward the work for sick and well, and the medical missionary work is the arm joined to that body, bearing to the whole work the same relation the arm bears to the body, and as part of the body under Him it is to be given oneness of respect and decided interest.

He is the head of all working forces in schools, health institutions, and publishing houses, and the chief working agency in them. When He is recognized as head, every department bears the mark of divine excellence and institutions are cleansed more and more thoroughly from every common, worldly practice, show, pretense, and exhibition. He molds and fashions the characters of teachers and students after the divine order as they prepare for the higher school in the courts of God, leading them to put away many things now thought necessary and to magnify and follow His methods to do God's will on earth as it is done in heaven. As Head and educator, the instruction He gave to the first church has been handed down through the generations to the present, with His covenant-keeping people entrusted with the care of His vineyard and His faithful servants administering His will and judgment on earth. Those who do God's will come to know the doctrine and know Him through living experience, and from heaven He teaches angels to minister to members of His church on earth, with the same Spirit able to work through people with different traits of character.

The object of all ministry in word and doctrine under His preeminence is to keep self out of sight and let Him appear, making His exaltation the great truth revealed. He is revealed not by show of knowledge or superior talent or philosophy, but by a soul emptied of natural self, sustained by the Word, with the Holy Spirit working on minds, the true light shining through in clear beams, and a patient, kind, forbearing spirit with pure and calm words, with Jesus by His messenger's side and angels close beside to keep him in peace. His leadership as divine Head calls workers to move forward with fresh zeal and to work in unity, so that dividing a conference is meant to strengthen the work, not separate its members from one another. In 1898 He remained the great Head amid difficulties and resistance from those in responsible positions in the Southern field, showing those difficulties are not impossibilities and the work should not be hindered. Claiming no other name or head, as Zwingle did, shows the unity of the Spirit's testimony about Him among reformers who had not communicated with one another.