Who is the 'who' in Colossians 1:15, and what does it mean that He is the image of the invisible God?
The 'who' in Colossians 1:15 is the Son mentioned in verse 13, in whom we have redemption. As the image of the invisible God, He is the visible, tangible evidence of the invisible triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit. They are Spirit and invisible, but the Son stepped out and became visible, tangible, and touchable in the flesh by Bethlehem.
Les explains that the pronoun 'who' in Colossians 1:15 reaches back to the Son in verse 13, where the text says He delivered us from the power of darkness, translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son, in whom we have redemption. So the who is the Son. Colossians 1:15 calls Him the image, or the visible, tangible evidence, of the invisible God. Les identifies the invisible God as the triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit—who are Spirit and invisible. Out of that invisible triune God stepped the Son. In the Old Testament economy He became visible temporarily and then would disappear, but in the New Testament account He became visible, tangible, and touchable. He lived in the flesh by virtue of Bethlehem. It is the same God now manifested in the flesh by the Son.
Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
More Questions
Who is the 'who' referring to in Colossians 1:15?
In Colossians 1:15, the pronoun 'who' refers back to the Son who is spoken of in verse 13, in whom we have redemption.
What does 'image' mean in Colossians 1:15?
Les explains that an image is a visible manifestation of something. In Colossians 1:15, Paul, by inspiration, speaks of the Son who redeemed us through His blood, and calls Him the image of the invisible God. Les says we take this by faith: the Triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit—were invisible, but God the Son stepped out of that invisible Godhead and became the visible manifestation of the whole. That is Christ, the Lord Jesus of Nazareth. Les connects this to verse 16, where Paul attributes creation to the Lord Jesus: all things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, principalities, even Satan’s realm, were created by Him. Thus He is the same God in Colossians as in Genesis, only now taking on human flesh and appearance.