Colossians 1:18

World English Bible (2000)

He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Καὶ αὐτός ἐστιν ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ σώματος, τῆς ἐκκλησίας: ὅς ἐστιν ἀρχή, πρωτότοκος ἐκ τῶν νεκρῶν· ἵνα γένηται ἐν πᾶσιν αὐτὸς πρωτεύων.

Transliteration

And he estin the kephalē of the sōmatos, of the ekklēsias: who estin archē, prōtotokos from the nekrōn; so that he might genētai in all things himself prōteuōn.

Grammar Details

• *estin*: present, active, indicative, 3rd person singular - is
• *kephalē*: nominative, feminine, singular - head
• *sōmatos*: genitive, neuter, singular - of body, possessive
• *ekklēsias*: genitive, feminine, singular - of church/assembly, apposition
• *archē*: nominative, feminine, singular - beginning/ruler
• *prōtotokos*: nominative, masculine, singular - firstborn
• *nekrōn*: genitive, masculine, plural - dead ones, source
• *genētai*: aorist, middle, subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might become
• *prōteuōn*: present, active, participle, nominative, masculine, singular - having first place

Word Meanings

• *kephalē*: head/ruler/source
• *sōmatos*: body/physical form
• *ekklēsias*: church/assembly/congregation
• *archē*: beginning/origin/ruler/first principle
• *prōtotokos*: firstborn/preeminent one
• *nekrōn*: dead ones/corpses
• *genētai*: might become/be/come to be
• *prōteuōn*: having first place/preeminent/holding supremacy

Referenced Verses

• Rev 1:5 : 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood;
• Eph 1:22-23 : 22 He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
• Acts 26:23 : 23 how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles."
• 1 Cor 15:20-23 : 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming.
• 1 Cor 11:3 : 3 But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.
• Eph 4:15-16 : 15 but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; 16 from whom all the body, being fitted and knit together through that which every joint supplies, according to the working in measure of each individual part, makes the body increase to the building up of itself in love.
• Matt 28:18 : 18 Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.
• John 1:27 : 27 He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to loosen."
• John 3:29-31 : 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
• Ps 89:27 : 27 I will also appoint him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
• Eph 5:23 : 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.
• Col 1:24 : 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the assembly;
• John 11:25-26 : 25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"
• Rev 22:13 : 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
• 1 Cor 15:25 : 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
• Heb 1:5-6 : 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."
• Rev 1:8 : 8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
• Rev 1:18 : 18 and the Living one. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. I have the keys of Death and of Hades.
• Rev 3:14 : 14 "To the angel of the assembly in Laodicea write: "The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Head of God's creation, says these things:
• Rev 5:9-9 : 9 They sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation, 10 and made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on earth." 11 I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands; 12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!" 13 I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!"
• Rev 11:15 : 15 The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!"
• Rev 21:6 : 6 He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give freely to him who is thirsty from the spring of the water of life.
• Rev 21:23-24 : 23 The city has no need for the sun, neither of the moon, to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
• 1 John 1:1 : 1 That which was from the beginning, that which we have heard, that which we have seen with our eyes, that which we saw, and our hands touched, concerning the Word of life
• Eph 1:10 : 10 to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;
• Rom 8:29 : 29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
• Col 2:10-14 : 10 and in him you are made full, who is the head of all principality and power; 11 in whom you were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 You were dead through your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 wiping out the handwriting in ordinances which was against us; and he has taken it out of the way, nailing it to the cross;
• Isa 52:13 : 13 Behold, my servant shall deal wisely, he shall be exalted and lifted up, and shall be very high.
• Matt 23:8 : 8 But don't you be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.
• John 3:34-35 : 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
• John 1:1 : 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• John 1:16 : 16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.
• Song 5:10 : 10 My beloved is white and ruddy. The best among ten thousand.
• Ps 45:2-5 : 2 You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever. 3 Strap your sword on your thigh, mighty one: your splendor and your majesty. 4 In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds. 5 Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king's enemies.