The Battle Hymn of Christ (Part 2): Christ the Sustainer
STROPHE ONE: CHRIST SUPREME OVER CREATION (COL. 1:15-16)
St. Paul wastes no words.
He begins with a hammer blow—Christ is not just a messenger, a prophet, or a teacher. He is the image of the invisible God, the Creator and purpose of all things.
And that changes everything.
When you truly see Him, you stop worrying about how you are seen.
Fear dissolves, and love takes its place. You are no longer a man focused on yourself, guarding your reputation, carefully curating an image. You are free to be who God made you to be, lead boldly, love sacrificially, and walk in the purpose for which you were created.
Because when Christ is first, self fades—and strength, courage, and conviction take its place.
VERSE 15: THE IMAGE OF GOD
ὅς ἐστιν εἰκὼν τοῦ θεοῦ τοῦ ἀοράτου
St. Paul declares that Christ is εἰκὼν—the image of God. Not a reflection, not a mere representative, but the full, unfiltered revelation of the Father.
To see Him is to see God.
Every attribute, every ounce of divine power, every thread of holiness is present in Christ. He lacks nothing. There is no shadow, no weakness, no imperfection.
And if He is enough, why do we hesitate to follow Him?
Why do we waste energy trying to craft an identity, be seen a certain way, and hold onto control?
Paul shatters the illusion: Look to Christ, and everything else finds its place.
πρωτότοκος πάσης κτίσεως – “Firstborn Over All Creation”
This phrase has sparked controversy, but St. Paul’s meaning is clear.
This is not about sequence—it is about status. Christ is not the first created being; He is supreme over all creation.
Some argue that “πάσης κτίσεως” should be read as “firstborn among all created things.” But Paul dismantles that notion in verse 16—all things were created through Him.
If St. Paul had meant to say Christ was created, he would have used terms like πρωτόπλαστος (formed first) or πρωτόκτιστος (created first). Instead, πρωτότοκος carries the meaning of rank—Christ is preeminent, standing above all that exists (Harris 1991, 44).
This means He is not just part of your story—He is your story.
He is not a chapter in your life—He is the author, the purpose, and the end goal.
And once you grasp that, you stop chasing approval and start walking in freedom.
VERSE 16: CHRIST, THE SOURCE OF CREATION
ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς
“For in Him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth.”
St. Paul does not make a soft statement—he makes an absolute one.
Creation was not an ongoing process—it happened at Christ’s command. The phrase τὰ πάντα (all things) is reinforced with the definite article τὰ, emphasizing not just a sum of parts but the entire created order (Harris 1991, 44).
This is not just theology—it is identity.
If He made you, then He defines you.
You do not have to search for meaning, carve out a name, or protect your image. The fear of being misjudged, misunderstood, or rejected fades when you know who made you and why you exist.
You were made for Him.
And when you focus on loving and serving others instead of obsessing over how you are perceived, fear disappears.
THE POWERS THAT FALL BEFORE HIM
εἴτε θρόνοι εἴτε κυριότητες εἴτε ἀρχαὶ εἴτε ἐξουσίαι
Even the unseen rulers—the forces that men fear—owe their very existence to Him.
Thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities—all bow before Christ’s creative power.
These were the very cosmic forces the Colossians were being tempted to adore. They looked at spiritual hierarchies, earthly rulers, and unseen powers and thought maybe we need more than Christ.
St. Paul strips these forces of their supposed independence.
They are not rivals to Christ.
They are His creation.
And if all these powers bow before Him, why do you still fear lesser things?
THE FINAL WORD: CHRIST THE PURPOSE OF ALL THINGS
τὰ πάντα δι᾽ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται
All things were created through Him and for Him.
The perfect tense of ἔκτισται (created) does not imply an ongoing process but a completed established reality.
Creation is not evolving toward Christ—it was always His from the beginning.
This means your life isn’t yours to build—it is His to use.
And that is freedom.
Freedom from the burden of self.
Freedom from the fear of judgment.
Freedom from the endless need to prove yourself.
Because you were made for Him.
And when you embrace that, perfect love casts out fear.
THE CALL TO MEN OF VIRTUE & VALOR
St. Paul was making war with these words.
Against deception.
Against idolatry.
Against any philosophy that tried to place something beside Christ as a source of power or wisdom.
But he wasn’t just calling men to face conflict head on—he was calling them to freedom.
Fear has no place in a heart that knows who made it.
Pride has no place in a life given over to Christ’s purpose.
So, where do you stand?
Have you let the fear of others’ opinions control you?
Have you clung to your own name instead of resting in His?
The supremacy of Christ is not up for debate.
The only question is—will you live under it?
