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Colossians 1:15-20 21

Strong’s Greek Dictionary # 4253 states the following about the word “before:”

Before – in front of (fig. superior).

Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament states:

Before – of superiority or preeminence.

Thayer’s definition mentions preeminence. Where have we heard that word before? That’s
right, 18c.

So what does it all mean? It means that Yeshua is above all things, preeminent in the Messi-
anic kingdom.

17b. “and in him all things hold together.”

Let us compare this verse to Ephesians 2:21-22:

“Through him the whole structure is held together and grows into a temple sacred in the
Lord; in him you are also being built together into a dwelling place for God.”

Notice in the above verse that it is through Yeshua that it is held together, and that “in him”
we are being built into a dwelling place for YEHOVAH.

So what does this all mean? It means simply that in the Messianic kingdom everything will
be based on the Messiah and his teachings, which are the teachings of YEHOVAH. Yeshua is the
cornerstone of the kingdom. Without him the whole structure falls apart. Without the Messiah there
is no Messianic kingdom.

18a. “He is the head of the body, the church.”

Just as the body follows the head, the church follows Yeshua.

18b. “He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.”

He is the first to be resurrected.

18c. “That in all things he might be preeminent.”

Because Yeshua is the first to be resurrected due to his sacrifice, he is preeminent in the
Messianic kingdom.

19a. “For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,”

Let us compare this verse to Colossians 2:9-10:

The Berean Voice November-December 2002