Read Colossians 1.15-23. in 1.15-23: A hymn to the universal Christ and comment on his redeeming work. Christ the cosmic agent of creation, has reconciled creation's warring elements (vv. 15-20), and the reconciled must remain faithful to their early teachings to ensure maturity (vv. 21-23). In verses 15-20: The hymn's origin is unknown, but if not Christian, it may bee an adaption from a Greek mystery religion, a Jewish text about the Son of Man and the end times, or Hellenistic Jewish wisdom text like Prov 8.22-31 or Sir 24.1-22. It easily divides into two: Christ as the agent of creation (vv. 15-18a) and Christ as the agent of redemption (vv. 18b-20). In verse 16: Christ's role in creation is like the role of Wisdom (see Prov 8.22-26; Sir 24.9). In verse 18: Head of the body, see 2.19; Eph 1.22-23. In verse 20: Reconcile, restore to friendship from enmity. See 1.22; Rom 5.10; 1 Cor 7.11; 2 Cor 5.18-21; Eph 2.16. In verses 21-23: A direct exhortation to the recipients: God has reconciled them and they will be blameless before God if they are steadfast. In verse 21: Estranged, alienated or unfamiliar with something. See Eph 2.12; 4.18. Comments or Questions..
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