Colossians 1:16 says, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” This verse teaches that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was the agent through whom God the Father created everything that exists, both seen and unseen. Understanding what this means gives insight into the nature, authority, and supremacy of Jesus.
Jesus is fully divine
The fact that Jesus created everything shows that He shares the divine attribute of being the Creator with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Genesis 1:1 declares “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Both the Old and New Testaments proclaim God to be the Creator of all things (Isaiah 40:28; 45:18; John 1:3; Acts 17:24-28). For Paul to ascribe this function to Jesus demonstrates that Jesus possesses full deity.
Jesus was not simply “a god” or a powerful being that God used to create everything. Rather, as John 1:1-3 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” Jesus, as the “Word” who was God, made all creation alongside the Father and the Spirit.
Jesus holds all authority
That Jesus created everything, including the angels and spiritual rulers, means that He holds ultimate authority over all things. As Colossians 1:16 mentions, Jesus made “thrones, dominions, rulers and authorities”, which likely refers to rankings of angelic beings. Yet Jesus is supreme over them all because they were created by Him and for Him. Jesus rules over all the invisible spiritual realm.
And because Jesus also created the heavens and earth (John 1:3), He has authority over the physical world and everything in it – including people. As Revelation 4:11 says, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Jesus’ status as Creator means He deserves our worship and submission.
Jesus is supreme over all
Not only did Jesus make all things, Colossians 1:16-17 explains that “all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” As Creator of everything, Jesus existed before anything was made. Jesus is supreme over the entire universe and all life because it was all created for His purposes to bring Him glory (see Revelation 4:11 again).
Additionally, Jesus currently holds everything together and sustains all of creation. Hebrews 1:3 calls Jesus the one “upholding the universe by the word of his power”. Without Jesus’ continual involvement, the universe He made would cease to exist. So Jesus is greater than and prior to all He created – nothing compares to Him. As Colossians 1:18 concludes, Jesus is “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”
Jesus reveals God the Father
An important implication of Jesus creating everything is that He fully makes God known to us. John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.” While the infinite God is largely invisible and unapproachable to finite humans, Jesus came to reveal God’s nature and purposes through taking on human flesh. As John 14:9 records Jesus saying, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”
When we look at Jesus’ power displayed through creating and sustaining the universe, it gives us a glimpse into the mighty power of God the Father. When we see Jesus’ love and kindness evident in His ministry on earth, it reflects the compassionate heart of God. And Jesus’ sacrificial death for sinners reveals the holy yet merciful character of God. So understanding who Jesus is and what He accomplished has tremendous implications for comprehending who God is.
Jesus is worthy of our worship
The fact that Jesus is Creator of all things means He alone deserves all of our worship, devotion, and obedience. Revelation 5:9 praises Jesus, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Jesus is worthy of all honor because of His sinless life, atoning death for sins, and resurrection from the dead.
But on top of that, Jesus is worthy simply because of who He is as Creator and sustainer of everything! When confronted with the amazing truth that the risen Jesus standing before Him created the universe, Thomas declared in worship, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). As our omnipotent Creator and mighty, loving Redeemer, Jesus alone is worthy of all our faith, obedience, and worship.
Jesus’ resurrection affirms His authority as Creator
Finally, Jesus’ resurrection displays His supreme authority as Creator of all. Only the One who created life has power to conquer death. As Acts 17:24-25 declares, “The God who made the world and everything in it … himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth.” So God will one day “judge the world in righteousness” through Jesus, whom He raised from the dead (Acts 17:31).
Jesus predicted His own death and resurrection as proof that He spoke truth about His divine identity and authority (Mark 8:31; John 2:19-22). By raising Jesus from the dead, God demonstrated approval of Christ’s claims to deity as the Creator. Our faith that Jesus is who He claimed – God the Son, Creator and Sustainer of all – hinges on His empty tomb. As Romans 1:4 says, Jesus “was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.”
Conclusion
Colossians 1:16 teaches the profound truth that Jesus Christ is Creator of all things, including the entire universe and realms unseen. This means Jesus eternally shares divine attributes with God the Father and Spirit. Jesus possesses ultimate authority over all He created to accomplish His purposes. By making all things, Jesus reveals the invisible God, and is therefore worthy of all our worship. Jesus’ resurrection confirms His identity as the all-powerful, only true God who alone gives life. When we grasp the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus as Creator, we are moved to deeper worship and trust in Him.