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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Bengel Commentary - Colossians 1:18 - 1:18
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Col 1:18. Καὶ, and) He now comes down from the whole to the principal part, the Church, comp. Eph 1:22, note.-ὅς ἔστι, who is) The Anaphora [repetition of the same words in beginnings], comp. Col 1:15, shows that there is here the beginning of a new paragraph, and its own ὅτι, because, is added to each member.-ἀρχὴ, beginning) This word corresponds to the Hebrew word ראש, especially concerning Christ, Hos 2:2, and ראשית, concerning a first-begotten in particular, Deu 21:17, but chiefly of Christ, Pro 8:22. ἀπαρχὴ, first fruits, is the term used, 1Co 15:23, the word being rather restricted to the resurrection of the dead: ἀρχὴ, beginning, more expressly denotes distinguished excellence; comp. Col 2:10; Psa 89:27. ἀρχὴ in the singular is antithetic to ἀρχαὶ, principalities, in the plural, Col 1:16.-πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν, the first-begotten from the dead) Christ, even before His resurrection from the dead, nay, before the creation of the world, was the first-begotten, Col 1:15; but He is said to be first-begotten from the dead, because, for this reason, inasmuch as He was the Son of God, He could not but rise again, and because, in consequence of His resurrection, He is acknowledged [recognised] to be the Son of God; comp. Act 13:33, note; and especially since there flows from His resurrection the life of many brethren.-πᾶσιν, in all things) In the neuter gender, Col 1:17.-αὐτὸς, He) by Himself, without deputies or substitute.-πρωτεύων, holding the first place) for example, in His resurrection, ascension, etc., Joh 3:13. Victorinus translates it, primarius, “the pre-eminent One.”