Pentecost Season · 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. 1600El Greco, Christ Blessing ("The Saviour of the World") (c. 1600), private collection

Roman Lectionary

GospelLuke 10:25-37

First ReadingDeut. 30:10-14

Responsorial PsalmPs. 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36a, 37 (cf. 33) orPs. 19:8, 9, 10, 11 (9a)

Second ReadingCol. 1:15-20

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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Commentary

Colossians 1 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

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

Colossians 1:15 Commentaries BibleHub

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

Colossians 1 (Barnes' Notes) StudyLight

Detailed notes on the hymn's Christology.

Colossians 1:14-16 Commentary Precept Austin

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

Colossians 1:15 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek interlinear for the hymn to Christ.

Background & Word Study

Colossians BibleProject

Overview of Colossians' argument for Christ's supremacy.

Colossians Enter the Bible

Course background on the letter's occasion and themes.

The Church Fathers

Colossians 1 Catena

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

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