The Forgotten Trinity: Recovering the Heart of Christian Belief

by James R. White

He quite literally exhausts the Greek language to make His point. Take a moment to read again, slowly, in your own Bible, verses 16 and 17. Notice especially the prepositions Paul uses. By Him,[15] through Him,[16] for Him, in Him. He is before all things. Then notice that Paul isn’t satisfied to simply say that “all things”[17] are created by Christ. He has to make sure we understand that he means all things. All things in heaven. All things in the earth (that’s pretty much everything!). But he keeps going. All things visible. All things invisible. Now, that is everything! But he’s not satisfied with just that. Things visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities. What’s his point here? Even the heavenly realms and the spiritual authorities (concepts the Gnostics liked to talk about) exist simply because Jesus Christ made them! Everything, anywhere, at any time, looks to the Son of God as “Creator.” Not only did He make all things, but Paul says that all things were made for Him! Christians instinctively know that we exist for God’s glory, God’s pleasure, and God’s purpose. Our hearts automatically agree with the sentiment, “You are the Potter, I am the clay.” Yet here the Bible says that all things were made “for” Jesus, and that He is “before” all things!