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Ordinary Time · Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time · Year C

Colossians 1:15-20

The Image of the Invisible God

July 16, 2028

Christ Blessing ("The Saviour of the World"), El Greco
Christ Blessing ("The Saviour of the World"), El Greco, c. 1600private collection
El Greco painted this subject repeatedly: one hand raised in blessing, the other on a globe, against a stormy ground.He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; in him all things in heaven and on earth were created.El GrecoA Cretan icon painter who trained in Venice and settled in Toledo, where he stretched his figures into something no other century has imitated successfully.private collectionIn private hands, which is why it is seen in reproduction far more often than in the flesh.private collection
Roman Lectionary
GospelLuke 10:25-37Lk 10:25-37
Second ReadingCol. 1:15-20Col 1:15-20
First ReadingDeut. 30:10-14Dt 30:10-14
Responsorial PsalmPs. 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36a, 37 (cf. 33)Ps 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36a, 37 (cf. 33) orPs. 19:8, 9, 10, 11 (9a)Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 (9a)

Overview & Insights

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." (Colossians 1:15)

This early Christian hymn proclaims Christ's supremacy over all creation as its agent and goal, and his supremacy over the church as its head through his reconciling death. It is one of the New Testament's densest statements of Christ's cosmic and redemptive role.

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Take it further: Colossians 1:15-20

Commentary

Colossians 1 CommentaryCol 1 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse treatment of the hymn to Christ's supremacy.

Colossians 1:15 CommentariesCol 1:15 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentary on Christ as the image of the invisible God.

Colossians 1 (Barnes' Notes)Col 1 (Barnes' Notes) StudyLight

Detailed notes on the hymn's Christology.

Colossians 1:14-16 CommentaryCol 1:14-16 Commentary Precept Austin

Verse-by-verse word study opening into the Christ-hymn.

Colossians 1:15 InterlinearCol 1:15 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek interlinear for the hymn to Christ.

Background & Word Study

ColossiansCol BibleProject

Overview of Colossians' argument for Christ's supremacy.

The Church Fathers

Colossians 1Col 1 Catena

Patristic comments gathered on the hymn to Christ's supremacy.

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