Colossians 1: 19 – That in all He may be becoming first

… in all He may be becoming first, for in Him the entire complement delights to dwell…

The wording in verse 19 seems somewhat puzzling because the subject of “the entire complement” is not explicitly mentioned. But comparison with 2:8 makes this clear: “… in Him the entire complement of the Deity is dwelling bodily” The word “complement” (Gr. pleroma) indicates something that fulfills or makes full. For example, baskets full of fragments (Mk.8:20) but also something that completes or supplements such as a patch placed on an old garment (Matt.9:16). For example, Paul calls the ecclesia as a body the complement of Christ as Head. A head without a body is not complete, and neither is Christ without the ecclesia.

It delights the entire complement to dwell in Him. As the “image of God,” the Son complements God as “the invisible” (:15). After all, without an image, God would remain invisible. In fact, the Son completes all of God by revealing who He is. In the following verse 20, Paul describes that God will make peace through Him and will reconcile all creation to Himself through the blood of the cross. In this too the Son is the complement of God. Because He makes all God’s qualities and virtues, His grace, love and righteousness, visible!

Delen: