Colossians 1:18

“And he is the head of the body, the church, etc.] By “the church” is meant, not any particular congregated church, as the church at Colosse, or Corinth, or any other; but the whole election of grace, the general assembly and church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven in the Lamb's book of life; the church which Christ has given himself for, and has purchased with his blood, and builds on himself the rock, and will, at last, present to himself a glorious church without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing; this is compared to an human body, and therefore called “the body”; which is but one, consisting of many members in union with each other, set in their proper places in just…”

“Revelation of Christ to the Church and the new creation, as the Originator of both. he--emphatical. Not angels in opposition to the false teachers' doctrine concerning angel-worship, and the power of Oeons or (imaginary) spirit emanations from God (Col 2:10, Col 2:18). head of the body, the church--The Church is His body by virtue of His entering into communion corporeally with human nature [NEANDER], (Eph 1:22). The same One who is the Head of all things and beings by creation, is also, by virtue of being "the first-born from the dead," and so "the first-fruits" of the new creation among men, the Head of the Church. who is--that is, in that He is the Beginning [ALFORD]. Rather, this is the…”

“And he is the head of the body, the church - Notes Ephesians 1:22; Ephesians 5:23, note. Who is the beginning - In all things - alike in the work of creation and in the church. He is the fountain of authority and power, and commences everything that is designed to uphold the order of the universe, and to save the world. The first-born from the dead - At the head of those who rise from their graves. This does not mean literally that he was the first who rose from the dead for he himself raised up Lazarus and others, and the bodies of saints arose at his crucifixion; but it means that he had the pre-eminence among them all; he was the most illustrious of those who will be raised from the dead,…”

“And - From the whole he now descends to the most eminent part, the church. He is the head of the church - Universal; the supreme and only head both of influence and of government to the whole body of believers. Who is - The repetition of the expression Col 1:15 points out the entrance on a new paragraph. The beginning - Absolutely, the Eternal. The first begotten from the dead - From whose resurrection flows all the life, spiritual and eternal, of all his brethren. That in all things - Whether of nature or grace. He might have the pre - eminence - Who can sound this depth? Colossians 1:19”

“1:18 head of the church: The Greek word kephalē (head) usually has the sense of authority over or chief when Paul uses it as a metaphor (see also 2:10, 19; 1 Cor 11:3-10; Eph 4:15; 5:23). • which is his body: The metaphor of the church as Christ’s body expresses the essential unity of Christ and the church (see also Col 1:24; 2:19; 3:15; Eph 1:23; 2:16; 4:4, 12; 5:23, 30). • supreme over all who rise from the dead (or the firstborn from the dead): See study note on Col 1:15.”

“he is: Col 1:24, Col 2:10-14; Co1 11:3; Eph 1:10, Eph 1:22, Eph 1:23, Eph 4:15, Eph 4:16, Eph 5:23 the beginning: Joh 1:1; Jo1 1:1; Rev 1:8, Rev 3:14, Rev 21:6, Rev 22:13 the firstborn: Joh 11:25, Joh 11:26; Act 26:23; Co1 15:20-23; Rev 1:5, Rev 1:18 in all: or, among all, Psa 45:2-5, Psa 89:27; Sol 5:10; Isa 52:13; Mat 23:8, Mat 28:18; Joh 1:16, Joh 1:27; Joh 3:29-31, Joh 3:34, Joh 3:35; Rom 8:29; Co1 15:25; Heb 1:5, Heb 1:6; Rev 5:9-13, Rev 11:15; Rev 21:23, Rev 21:24 Colossians 1:19”