Does Colossians 1:16 represent the creation of a sub-set of things within the universe?

Question

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: - Colossians 1:16 (KJV)

Here we have all (things) created and given as including literally into...to the...to heavens and unto...of the...of earth. Then follows an apparently inclusive qualifier of visible and invisible followed by four categories that seem to limit the scope of visible and invisible, for example trees are neither thrones, nor dominions, etc. This is then referred to again as all (things).

Do thrones, dominions, principalities, and powers act as delimiters making the all things created by him to be a sub-set within the universe and not the universe itself? A related question would be, does all into heaven and unto earth preclude the creation of heaven and earth themselves?

Related: Does "all things" always mean the same in these seven verses?

Does Colossians 1:15, refer to the Genesis creation, or merely present Jesus as the beginning of those raised from the dead?

What is Jesus being credited with here? Col 1:16

Answer 1

Paul is very fond of using the "hendiadys" = two extremes to signify the whole. In Col 1:16 we have

• heaven and earth (ie everything)
• visible and invisible (ie everything)
• thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities (ie everything). Compare Eph 1:21.

We also see the same literary device in many other places in Paul's writing, with the best known in Gal 3:28 -

• neither Jew nor Greek (ie, no distinction with anyone)
• neither slave nor free (ie, no distinction with anyone)
• neither male nor female (ie, no distinction with anyone)

Now, there are several ways to view this. The first two items can be seen as including all objects/things while the last item can either be seen as a double hendiadys, or, included as distinct from objects to ensure that absolutely everything was created by Jesus.

Here are a few more from Paul:

• Rom 2:28, (Jewish) not openly nor in the flesh (= a believer, not a biological Jew)
• Rom 3:10, none righteous nor one (= nobody is righteous, all are sinners)
• Rom 4:15, no law nor transgression (= no Torah nor 10 commandments)
• Rom 8:7, not subject to law nor can be (= outside the law)
• Rom 9:6, 7, not all descended from Israel nor can they be (= unconnected with literal Israel)
• Rom 9:16, not the [one] wishing nor the [one] running (= unrelated to humans at all)
• Rom 11:21, not spare branches nor you (= spare no one)
• 1 Cor 2:6, (wisdom) not of this age nor the rulers of this age (= unrelated to human wisdom)
• 1 Cor 11:16, (custom) not have neither the churches have (= nothing else)
• 1 Cor 15:13, (resurrection of dead) not is neither Christ has been raised (= no resurrection)
• 1 Cor 15:16, (dead) not raised neither Christ has been raised (= no resurrection)
• 1 Cor 15:50, (flesh and blood) not able to inherit corruption nor incorruption (= mortal man does not enter eternity)
• 2 Cor 7:12, not for the sake of the offender neither the sake of the wronged (= unrelated to the crime)
• Gal 1:1, not from men nor through men (= unrelated to humanity)
• Gal 1:11,12, not according to man neither from man neither taught [by man] (= unrelated to humanity)
• Gal 1:16,17, not conferred with flesh and blood neither go up to Jerusalem (= unrelated to human advice)
• and many more

Answer 2

If I say that US Open tournament sponsors paid and provided all things within the precincts of the area of the tournament both in-courts and outside courts, it does not mean that the courts themselves and the buildings outside courts weren’t paid and provided by the same sponsors. On the contrary all things within courts entail courts themselves (concrete, plastic covering of it, paints of lines etc.), as well as all things in the buildings outside courts entail buildings themselves (locker rooms, toilets, sportsmen resting areas etc.).

So, if your question hiddenly implies that Father first created - or even could create - heaven and earth without His Logos, who is called also Jesus Christ after the Incarnation, and only then created all things through His Logos in those pre-created settings of the Heaven and earth, then this is a heresy, for Father is ontologically unable to create anything without His Logos. Could Mohammad Ali deliver his knocking-out 🤜 without his hand? Impossible. The same with the Father and the Son/Logos.

Answer 3

I think one ought not skip over the conjunction whether “whether they be” in other words even these things are created and he enumerates them. These are not excluded, they are not eternally preexisting, (like God) but they were created. And they were created by none other than the Son Himself v15

This is Paul’s way of showing the SUPERIORITY of Christ. He the Son even created the gods of the nations, all the hosts of the heavens. He is their creator too. He is unlike them because He made them.

We know not only know they were created by Him but it goes on to say they were created FOR Him. That puts Him in a category entirely superior to anything created, including the rulers, principalities, powers et cetera

And to leave no confusion whatsoever that the Son is preexistant he adds

“And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” ‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:17‬ ‭

He predates everything that is created and the heavens and earth have a day one, they are created. He preexists them too, and especially the heavenly beings, they too are after Him, because without a heaven to be in, they wouldn’t have a place to exist in geographically/spatially.

Paul is making a case for the divine eternal existence of the Son by contrasting it to ALL (without exception) all things that were created. The Son being uncreated.