Is Your View of Jesus Too Small?
- Thad DeBuhr
- Jul 1
- 12 min read
Study Guide: Colossians 1:15-20
Imagine walking into a room where someone has dumped thousands of puzzle pieces across a table.
Nothing seems connected.
Some pieces are sky.
Some are trees.
Some are buildings.
Some are faces.
At first glance, it all feels random.
Then someone hands you the picture printed on the front of the puzzle box.
Suddenly everything changes.
The pieces didn't change.
Your perspective did.
Now every piece has a place.
Every color has a purpose.
Every section begins making sense.
That's exactly what Paul does in Colossians 1:15–20.
Life can feel like scattered puzzle pieces.
Creation.
Our purpose.
Suffering.
The church.
Salvation.
Our future.
Sometimes they all seem disconnected.
Paul says if you want to understand any of them, you have to begin with Jesus.
He is the picture on the box.
Everything else starts making sense when you see Him clearly.
As you go through the study guide, I would suggest reading or listening to the Bible passages in two different bible translations from this list: NIV, NLT, NASB, ESV, NKJV
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Setting the Scene
Paul has already reminded the believers in Colossae who they are in Christ (1:1–2). Then he thanked God for their growing faith, love, and hope (1:3–8). Next, he prayed that they would grow—not simply in Bible knowledge—but in wisdom that changes the way they live (1:9–14).
Now Paul reaches what many Bible scholars believe is one of the highest and most beautiful descriptions of Jesus in the entire New Testament.
Some believe these verses were an early Christian hymn that believers already knew and sang together. Whether Paul wrote it himself or quoted words familiar to the churches, the point is the same:
Everything depends on who Jesus really is.
That matters because the Colossian church was already beginning to hear voices telling them that Jesus was important—but not enough.
Some teachers encouraged people to seek additional spiritual experiences.
Others emphasized angels.
Some mixed Jewish traditions with local spiritual beliefs.
Others added strict religious rules.
The message was subtle:
"Jesus is good... but you need something more."
Paul answers that idea before it has a chance to take root.
He doesn't begin by attacking the false teachers.
He simply lifts Jesus so high that every competing voice suddenly looks small.
That is still one of the best ways to deal with confusion today.
Rather than obsessing over every false idea, spend more time looking at Jesus.
The clearer your view of Him becomes, the easier it is to recognize everything that falls short.
One more historical detail helps us appreciate this passage.
The Roman Empire constantly celebrated Caesar.
Coins carried his image.
Temples honored him.
Public ceremonies declared him "Lord."
The emperor presented himself as the one bringing peace, stability, and order to the world.
Paul quietly but boldly says something astonishing:
The true ruler of the world isn't Caesar.
It's Jesus.
He existed before creation.
He created everything.
He sustains everything.
He rules His church.
And one day everything will answer to Him.
Walking Through the Passage
1. Jesus Shows Us Exactly What God Is Like
(Colossians 1:15)
"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God." (NLT)
People have always wondered what God is really like.
Is He loving?
Is He distant?
Is He patient?
Is He angry?
Paul says if you want the answer, look at Jesus.
Jesus doesn't just tell us about God—He shows us what God is like. When Jesus welcomed children, forgave sinners, showed compassion, wept with hurting people, and ultimately gave His life on the cross, He was revealing the very heart of the Father.
Jesus Himself said,
"Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:9, NLT)
That would have been a powerful statement in Colossae. The city was surrounded by temples, idols, and images of different gods. People believed they needed statues or spiritual beings to connect with the divine.
Paul says God has already given us His perfect image.
His name is Jesus.
2. "Firstborn" Doesn't Mean Jesus Was Created
(Colossians 1:15)
Paul says Jesus is "supreme over all creation." Older translations use the phrase "firstborn over all creation," and that has confused some readers.
In the Bible, "firstborn" often describes position and authority, not who was born first.
For example, King David was the youngest son in his family, yet God called him His "firstborn" because He gave David the highest place among Israel's kings (Psalm 89:27).
Paul is using that same idea here.
Jesus isn't part of creation. He stands above it. He is the rightful ruler over everything because, as Paul explains in the very next verse, He is the One who created it all.
3. Jesus Created Everything
(Colossians 1:16)
Paul writes,
"For through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth... Everything was created through him and for him." (NLT)
Notice how often Paul uses the word everything.
He wants us to understand that nothing exists outside of Jesus' authority.
That included something the Colossians worried about a great deal: unseen spiritual powers. Some people believed they needed angels or special spiritual practices for protection.
Paul's answer is simple. Every ruler, authority, and spiritual power was created by Jesus and is under His authority.
Then Paul says something deeply personal.
Everything was created for Him.
That means your life has purpose. You weren't created just to make money, retire comfortably, or chase success. You were created to know Jesus, reflect Him, and bring Him glory.
When we understand that, it changes the way we see every part of life.
4. Jesus Holds Everything Together
(Colossians 1:17)
Paul says,
"He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together." (NLT)
Jesus didn't simply create the universe and then step away.
Right now, He continues to sustain it.
Every sunrise, every heartbeat, every galaxy, every moment of history continues because Christ is holding it together.
That truth becomes deeply personal when life feels chaotic.
Sometimes it seems like everything around us is falling apart.
Paul reminds us that the One who holds the universe together is also holding His people.
Life may feel uncertain, but it has never slipped out of His hands.
5. Jesus Is the Head of the Church
(Colossians 1:18)
Paul now shifts from talking about creation to talking about the church.
"Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body." (NLT)
The head directs the body. It gives life, direction, and purpose.
In the same way, Jesus is the leader of His church.
Not pastors.
Not denominations.
Not traditions.
The church belongs to Christ.
That's an encouraging reminder for the Colossians. They lived in a small, overlooked city, but they belonged to the King who rules over all creation.
The same is true for us.
No matter where we live or how ordinary our lives may seem, we belong to Jesus.
6. Jesus Is the Beginning of God's New Creation
(Colossians 1:18)
Paul says Jesus is,
"the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead." (NLT)
When Jesus rose from the grave, He did more than defeat death for Himself.
His resurrection marked the beginning of God's new creation.
Sin had brought death and brokenness into the world, but Jesus' resurrection announced that death would not have the final word.
Paul calls Him the "firstborn from the dead" because He is the first to rise with a resurrected body that will never die again.
Everyone who belongs to Jesus now shares that same hope.
As Christians, we don't just look back to the cross.
We also look forward to the day when Jesus makes all things new.
7. All the Fullness of God Lives in Jesus
(Colossians 1:19)
Paul writes,
"For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ." (NLT)
That is one of the strongest statements in the Bible about who Jesus is.
Paul isn't saying Jesus reflects part of God.
He is saying everything that makes God who He is lives fully in Jesus.
That mattered because some teachers in Colossae were suggesting believers needed something beyond Christ—more spiritual experiences, more knowledge, or more religious practices.
Paul gently but firmly answers that idea.
If all of God's fullness already lives in Jesus, then nothing needs to be added to Him.
The Christian life isn't about finding something beyond Jesus.
It's about spending the rest of our lives discovering just how great He really is.
8. Jesus Came to Restore What Sin Broke
(Colossians 1:20)
Paul closes this beautiful section by saying,
"Through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross." (NLT)
The word reconcile means to restore a relationship that has been broken.
That's exactly what Jesus came to do.
Sin damaged our relationship with God, with one another, and even with creation itself.
Through His death on the cross, Jesus began restoring everything that sin had broken.
The cross wasn't simply the end of Jesus' story.
It was the beginning of God's rescue plan.
Paul isn't saying every person is automatically saved. Later he calls people to continue trusting Christ (Colossians 1:23).
Instead, he's reminding us that Jesus' victory is bigger than we often imagine.
One day, everything broken by sin will be made right under the rule of King Jesus.
The story that began in Genesis finds its fulfillment in Him.
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Why Context Changes Everything
If we read this passage without understanding the setting, we might think Paul is simply giving us a beautiful description of Jesus.
He is.
But he's also answering a crisis.
The Colossians were being tempted to believe they needed something beyond Christ.
More rules.
More spiritual experiences.
More mystical knowledge.
More heavenly beings.
Paul doesn't argue point by point.
Instead, he presents such a breathtaking picture of Jesus that every competing claim simply collapses.
That's why context matters.
Paul isn't just teaching theology.
He's protecting believers from settling for a smaller Jesus.
That warning still matters today.
Whenever we begin trusting politics, success, experiences, traditions, personalities, or even ourselves more than Jesus, we're making Him smaller than He really is.
Applying It Wrong
One way people misuse this passage is by treating "firstborn" as if Paul were saying Jesus was created.
But the very next verses explain that Jesus created everything. Paul is describing Christ's supreme authority, not His origin.
Another mistake is reading this passage as interesting theology without letting it shape everyday life. Paul isn't giving believers facts to admire. He's helping them trust Jesus more deeply.
Others make Jesus important while allowing something else to become ultimate—a political movement, a favorite teacher, a denomination, personal success, or even ministry itself. Paul keeps bringing us back to one truth: Jesus belongs at the center.
Finally, some read "God reconciled everything" as if everyone is automatically saved regardless of faith. Paul isn't teaching that. He's describing the scope of Christ's victory over creation while continuing to call people to respond to Him in faith.
Applying It Well
Read this passage slowly.
Don't rush through it.
Pause and ask, "What does this teach me about Jesus?"
Notice how every description builds on the last.
Jesus reveals God.
Jesus created everything.
Jesus sustains everything.
Jesus leads the Church.
Jesus defeated death.
Jesus possesses all God's fullness.
Jesus reconciles all things through the cross.
The goal isn't simply to know these truths.
It's to worship the One they describe.
The more clearly we see Jesus, the more confidently we can trust Him with every part of our lives.
When life feels confusing, don't begin with your circumstances.
Begin with Christ.
He is still holding all things together.
That includes you.
Questions to Chew on and Discuss:
These questions are designed to help you personally dig deeper into the passage and help guide your discussions in your Journey Groups and Me & 3 small groups.
Look Closely
(What does the passage say?)
What titles and descriptions does Paul give Jesus in verses 15–20?
How many times do you notice words like "all," "everything," or similar ideas repeated?
What does Paul say Jesus has done in the past, and what is He still doing today?
Dig Deeper
(What did it mean?)
Why was it important for the Colossian believers to hear that Jesus is above every ruler and authority?
How does understanding "firstborn" as a position of authority change the way you read this passage?
What connections do you see between Genesis 1 and Colossians 1?
Let It Sink In
(What is God showing me?)
Which description of Jesus challenges or encourages you the most? Why?
Has your view of Jesus become smaller than it should be? If so, what has taken His place?
Where do you most need to remember that Christ is holding all things together?
Live It Out
(What will I do?)
What is one area of your life that needs to come back under Christ's leadership?
How could keeping Jesus at the center change one decision you'll make this week?
What is one truth from Colossians 1:15–20 that you want to carry with you every day this week?
Journey Group OR ME & 3 Small Group Discussion Starters:
Whether you're helping facilitate a small group, talking about this passage one-on-one with a friend, or even just need a topic to guide the conversation at the dinner table, these ideas can help start a good group conversation before you dive into the passage and questions in this study guide.
Icebreaker:
If you had to describe Jesus using only one word or one short phrase, what would you choose, and why?
Discussion Starter:
After reading Colossians 1:15–20, which picture of Jesus stands out the most to you? How does seeing Him that way change how you face your everyday life?
Sum It Up
Colossians 1:15–20 is one of the clearest and most powerful portraits of Jesus in all of Scripture. Paul reminds us that Jesus is not just part of God's story—He is the center of it. He reveals the invisible God, created and sustains everything, leads His Church, conquered death, and through His cross began restoring everything sin had broken.
The Colossians were tempted to believe they needed something more than Jesus. Paul answered by giving them a bigger view of Christ.
We need that reminder today just as much.
When Jesus is seen for who He truly is, everything else begins to find its proper place.
Five Takeaways
Jesus perfectly shows us what God is like.
Everything was created through Him, for Him, and is sustained by Him.
The resurrection of Jesus began God's new creation.
The cross is God's plan to restore what sin has broken.
The clearer your view of Jesus becomes, the more clearly everything else begins to make sense.
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