Colossians 1:18

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.

📖 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 from among the dead, the ruler over the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has set us free from our sins at the cost of his own blood
• Eph 1:22-23 : 22 And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and gave him to the church as head over all things. 23 Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
• Acts 26:23 : 23 that the Christ was to suffer and be the first to rise from the dead, to proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”
• 1 Cor 15:20-23 : 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. 22 For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to him.
• 1 Cor 11:3 : 3 But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.
• Eph 4:15-16 : 15 But practicing the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ, who is the head. 16 From him the whole body grows, fitted and held together through every supporting ligament. As each one does its part, the body builds itself up in love.
• Matt 28:18 : 18 Then Jesus came up and said to them,“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
• John 1:27 : 27 who is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal!”
• John 3:29-31 : 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. 30 He must become more important while I become less important.” 31 The one who comes from above is superior to all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is superior to all.
• Ps 89:27 : 27 I will appoint him to be my firstborn son, the most exalted of the earth’s kings.
• Eph 5:23 : 23 because the husband is the head of the wife as also Christ is the head of the church(he himself being the savior of the body).
• Col 1:24 : 24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for you, and I fill up in my physical body– for the sake of his body, the church– what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ.
• John 11:25-26 : 25 Jesus said to her,“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies, 26 and the one who 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 The Son Is Superior to Angels For to which of the angels did God ever say,“You are my son! Today I have fathered you”? And in another place he says,“I will be his father and he will be my son.” 6 But when he again brings his 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– the one who is, and who was, and who is still to come– the All-Powerful!
• Rev 1:18 : 18 and the one who lives! I was dead, but look, now I am alive– forever and ever– and I hold the keys of death and of Hades!
• Rev 3:14 : 14 To the Church in Laodicea“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write the following:“This is the solemn pronouncement of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator of God’s creation:
• Rev 5:9-9 : 9 They were singing a new song:“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. 10 You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand– thousands times thousands– 12 all of whom were singing in a loud voice:“Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature– in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them– singing:“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!”
• Rev 11:15 : 15 The Seventh Trumpet Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying:“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”
• Rev 21:6 : 6 He also said to me,“It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give water free of charge from the spring of the water of life.
• Rev 21:23-24 : 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God lights it up, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 The nations will walk by its light and the kings of the earth will bring their grandeur into it.
• 1 John 1:1 : 1 ¶ The Prologue to the Letter This is what we proclaim to you: what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched(concerning the word of life–
• Eph 1:10 : 10 toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ– the things in heaven and the things on earth.
• Rom 8:29 : 29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
• Col 2:10-14 : 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 In him you also were circumcised– not, however, with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal of the fleshly body, that is, through the circumcision done by Christ. 12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your faith in the power of God who raised him from the dead. 13 And even though you were dead in your transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. 14 He has destroyed what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross.
• Isa 52:13 : 13 The Lord Will Vindicate His Servant“Look, my servant will succeed! He will be elevated, lifted high, and greatly exalted–
• Matt 23:8 : 8 But you are not to be called‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher and you are all brothers.
• John 3:34-35 : 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority.
• John 1:1 : 1 ¶ The Prologue to the Gospel In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.
• John 1:16 : 16 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another.
• Song 5:10 : 10 The Beloved to the Maidens: My beloved is dazzling and ruddy; he stands out in comparison to all other men.
• Ps 45:2-5 : 2 You are the most handsome of all men! You speak in an impressive and fitting manner! For this reason God grants you continual blessings. 3 Strap your sword to your thigh, O warrior! Appear in your majestic splendor! 4 Appear in your majesty and be victorious! Ride forth for the sake of what is right, on behalf of justice! Then your right hand will accomplish mighty acts! 5 Your arrows are sharp and penetrate the hearts of the king’s enemies. Nations fall at your feet.