Who Are You, Lord?

The three contrasts are heaven and earth, seen and unseen, and the last - thrones (thronos), lords (kuriotes), rulers or “arche” in Greek (as in hier-archy, an-archy), and authorities (exousia). “Lords” - “powers” in NIV (v 16) - occurs merely four times in the Bible; its other translations are “dominion” (Eph 1:21) and “authority” (2 Peter 2:10, Jude 1). Throne is the seat, lord is the title, rule is the realm and authority is the might.

The second verb, besides “created,” is “hold together” (sun-istao), or literally “together stand” in Greek. The world is not merely created, but commissioned to act; not merely formed but functioning, not running on empty but running like clockwork.

Christ is the Master of the Living and the Dead

18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Col 1:18)

Shortly after his 50th birthday, Einstein also gave a remarkable interview in which he was more revealing than he had ever been about his religious sensibility. A noted interviewer asked Einstein, “To what extent are you influenced by Christianity? Einstein answered, “As a child I received instruction both in the Bible and in the Talmud. I am a Jew, but I am enthralled by the luminous figure of the Nazarene.” The interviewer questioned, “You accept the historical existence of Jesus? The illustrious scientist replied, “Unquestionably! No one can read the Gospels without feeling the actual presence of Jesus. His personality pulsates in every word. No myth is filled with such life.” (“Einstein & Faith,” Time Magazine Apr. 16, 2007 By Walter Isaacson)

To the skeptics, cynics and doubters who asked God “What have you done for me lately?” Paul argues that Christ not only cares for the creation, but He cares for His church, whose doors encompass and embrace saints and sinners. God’s activity is not confined to the past but connected to the present. Creating the world was merely the story, caring for them is the subject. Previously, Paul talked about Christ’s part in creation, and now about His purpose in creating.

The church is His body, His bride and His beloved. In His wisdom, He chose none as weak, worthless and as wayward to demonstrate His greatness and glory. It’s been said, “The church is not a club of saints; it is a hospital for sinners.” Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29, “Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise (sophos) by human standards; not many were influential (dunatos); not many were of noble birth (eu-genes, “good genes”). But God chose the foolish things (moros) of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things (a-sthenes, “no strength”) of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things (a-genes, “no genes”) of this world and the despised things (ex-outheneo, “out of nothing”) — and the things that are not — to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.”

The firstborn (prototokos) among the dead means headship and authority over the dead, as is meant and governed by the previous word “beginning,” which is the same word for “ruler” in verse 16. Death is an important subject in the Bible because death is an uninvited guest, the great equalizer and the last enemy to be destroyed (1 Cor 15:26). The Greeks say, “Death is the only God that loves not bribes.” Not everybody fears death or dying, but everybody fears the pain of death and dying.