The Supremacy of the Son
(Colossians 1:15-23)
1God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
6And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
7And of the angels he saith, Who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.
8But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.
9Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
10And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
11They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.
13But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
14Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?
King James Bible
Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.
The Supremacy of the Son
(Colossians 1:15–23)
1 God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. 3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have.
5 For to which of the angels did he say at any time, “You are my Son. Today have I become your father?” and again, “I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a Son?”
6 Again, when he brings in the firstborn into the world he says, “Let all the angels of God worship him.”
7 Of the angels he says, “Who makes his angels winds, and his servants a flame of fire.”
8 But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.”
10 And, “You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth. The heavens are the works of your hands.
11 They will perish, but you continue. They all will grow old like a garment does.
12 As a mantle, you will roll them up, and they will be changed; but you are the same. Your years will not fail.”
13 But which of the angels has he told at any time, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?”
14 Aren’t they all serving spirits, sent out to do service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?
The Supremacy of the Son
(Colossians 1:15–23)
1 On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. 2 But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, a whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. b
3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. 4 So He became as far superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is excellent beyond theirs. 5 For to which of the angels did God ever say:
“You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father” c?
Or again:
“I will be His Father,
and He will be My Son” d?
6 And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says:
“Let all God’s angels worship Him.” e
7 Now about the angels He says:
“He makes His angels winds,
His servants flames of fire.” f
8 But about the Son He says:
“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever,
and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9 You have loved righteousness
and hated wickedness;
therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
above Your companions with the oil of joy.” g
10 And:
“In the beginning, O Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
11 They will perish, but You remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
12 You will roll them up like a robe;
like a garment h they will be changed;
but You remain the same,
and Your years will never end.” i
13 Yet to which of the angels did God ever say:
“Sit at My right hand
until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet” j?
14 Are not the angels k ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Footnotes:
2 a Or in His Son
2 b Or the world ; literally the ages
5 c Psalm 2:7; literally today I have begotten You
5 d 2 Samuel 7:14; 1 Chronicles 17:13
6 e Deuteronomy 32:43 (see DSS and LXX)
7 f Psalm 104:4 (see also LXX)
9 g Psalm 45:6–7
12 h BYZ and TR do not include like a garment .
12 i Psalm 102:25–27
13 j Psalm 110:1
14 k Literally Are they not all
The Supremacy of the Son
(Colossians 1:15-23)
1In many parts, and many ways, God of old having spoken to the fathers in the prophets, 2in these last days did speak to us in a Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages; 3who being the brightness of the glory, and the impress of His subsistence, bearing up also the all things by the saying of his might -- through himself having made a cleansing of our sins, sat down at the right hand of the greatness in the highest, 4having become so much better than the messengers, as he did inherit a more excellent name than they.
5For to which of the messengers said He ever, 'My Son thou art -- I to-day have begotten thee?' and again, 'I will be to him for a father, and he shall be to Me for a son?'
6and when again He may bring in the first-born to the world, He saith, 'And let them bow before him -- all messengers of God;'
7and unto the messengers, indeed, He saith, 'Who is making His messengers spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire;'
8and unto the Son: 'Thy throne, O God, is to the age of the age; a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy reign;
9thou didst love righteousness, and didst hate lawlessness; because of this did He anoint thee -- God, thy God -- with oil of gladness above thy partners;'
10and, 'Thou, at the beginning, Lord, the earth didst found, and a work of thy hands are the heavens;
11these shall perish, and Thou dost remain, and all, as a garment, shall become old,
12and as a mantle Thou shall roll them together, and they shall be changed, and Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.'
13And unto which of the messengers said He ever, 'Sit at My right hand, till I may make thine enemies thy footstool?'
14are they not all spirits of service -- for ministration being sent forth because of those about to inherit salvation?
The Favor of God paraphrase
God’s Final Word Through His Son
¹ Long ago, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets in many different ways and at many different times. ² But in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, Jesus, whom He appointed heir of all things and through whom He made the universe. ³ Jesus, who is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being, sustains all things by His powerful word. After He had made purification for our sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
⁴ So He became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is greater than theirs. ⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father” or again, “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?
⁶ And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him!” ⁷ In speaking of the angels He says, “He makes His angels spirits, and His servants flames of fire.” ⁸ But about the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, will last forever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of Your kingdom. ⁹ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has set You above Your companions by anointing You with the oil of joy.”
¹⁰ He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. ¹¹ They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. ¹² You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment, they will be changed. But You remain the same, and Your years will never end.”
¹³ To which of the angels did God ever say, “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”? ¹⁴ Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?
Footnotes:
1.“Last days” (verse 2) refers to the final era in God’s redemptive plan, which began with Jesus’ coming.
2.“Exact representation” (verse 3) translates a Greek term referring to an impression or stamp, emphasizing that Jesus perfectly reflects God’s nature and essence.
3.“Sat down at the right hand” (verse 3) symbolizes Jesus’ completion of His redemptive work and His exalted position of authority next to God.
4.“Firstborn” (verse 6) refers to Jesus’ preeminence and unique relationship with the Father, not implying a created being but His status as the highest over all creation.
5.“Angels worship Him” (verse 6) reflects Jesus’ superiority over angels, emphasizing His divinity and role as the object of heavenly worship.
6.“Scepter of justice” (verse 8) symbolizes Jesus’ reign of righteousness and justice, marking Him as the true King.
7.“Oil of joy” (verse 9) indicates Jesus’ anointing as the Messiah, a symbol of God’s favor and joy poured out on Him for His love of righteousness.
