Colossians 1:15-20 The Pre-eminence of Jesus Christ

Is Jesus an angel? Do believers need angels? Should we pray to angels or ask them to join us? Should we pray to them? It is vital that the church and its members be clear about the person and work of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the rock upon which the Church is founded. He is the Chief Cornerstone. He is our Mediator, our High Priest, our Master, and King. He purchased the Church; He saves His Church; purifies His Church, and He rules the Church through His Word. 

The New Geneva Study Bible states, “It is notoriously difficult to reconstruct the false teaching to which Paul was responding because the letter is less a critique of error  than a positive statement of the sufficiency of the person and work of Christ.” It then lists three elements about the false teaching that stands out in this epistle. The first is that it claimed to be a “philosophy;” the second, is that it is largely Jewish, and the third is the importance of angelic spirits. The false teachers seem to have taught that angelic beings, good and bad, were to be feared and invoked. It also seems apparent that these people were teaching that angels were emanations from the deity, and in fact, Jesus himself was one of these emanations. This would imply therefore, that in their view Jesus was a created being rather than a member of the godhead. 

Paul must have viewed the problem in the Colossian church as one of ignorance. Rather than defining and refuting the errors, he largely gives a positive exposition of the proper view of the sufficiency of the Lord Jesus Christ. Considering the recent uprising of interests in angels, this book is very pertinent for us as well. Jesus Christ is preeminent in creation and redemption. He is our all sufficient Savior.