Colossians · Chapter 1 · Faith

Colossians 1:17 — Bible Verse Meaning & Context

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Read in chapter context · Colossians 1

Both translations, side by side

WEB · World English Bible

"He is before all things, and in him all things are held together."

KJV · King James Version

"And2532 he846 is2076 before4253 all things3956, and2532 by1722 him846 all things3956 consist4921."

How the translations differ: The WEB is a modern public-domain revision of the 1901 ASV; the KJV dates to 1611. The KJV uses consist, while the WEB renders these as are, held, together. Both translate the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text — the differences are stylistic, not theological.

In context

Colossians 1:17 in Colossians 1

A Bible verse rarely stands alone. Here is Colossians 1:17 read with the verses immediately before and after — the surrounding flow of Colossians 1. Read the full chapter →

v.15 who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
v.16 For by him all things were created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him.
v.17 He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.
v.18 He is the head of the body, the assembly, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
v.19 For all the fullness was pleased to dwell in him;

Book background

About the Book of Colossians

Testament: New Testament
Genre: Pauline epistle
Author: Paul
Date written: c. 60–62 AD
Audience: A small church Paul had never visited
Chapters: 4

Colossians is Paul's definitive exposition of the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. Against a proto-gnostic mix of Jewish legalism, asceticism, and angel worship, Paul declares: "In him all the fullness of deity dwells bodily" (2:9). Christ is creator, sustainer, head of the church, and the Christian's complete life.

Setting: Written from Roman imprisonment to counter a syncretistic heresy.

Key themes: supremacy of Christ · fullness · new life · wisdom · identity

Read Colossians from the beginning →

Memorisation aid

How to memorise Colossians 1:17

Colossians 1:17 contains 13 words in 2 clauses. Learn one clause at a time, then chain them. The first-letter mnemonic (FLM) under each clause is a memory hook — once you can speak the FLM from memory, the full clause follows.

1

He is before all things

HIBAT
2

and in him all things are held together.

AIHATA

Frequently asked

FAQ about Colossians 1:17

What does Colossians 1:17 say?

Colossians 1:17 reads: "He is before all things, and in him all things are held together." — from the New Testament, Colossians (Pauline epistle). The full verse is shown above with both the World English Bible (WEB) and King James Version (KJV) translations side by side.

What book of the Bible is Colossians 1:17 in?

Colossians 1:17 is in the book of Colossians, traditionally attributed to Paul and written around c. 60–62 AD. Colossians is pauline epistle in the New Testament, originally addressed to A small church Paul had never visited. Best known for the supremacy of Christ (1:15-20).

What is Colossians 1:17 about?

Colossians 1:17 is primarily a Bible verse about Faith. Within Colossians, Colossians is Paul's definitive exposition of the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. Read the full passage above with surrounding context.

What is the difference between Colossians 1:17 in WEB and KJV?

Colossians 1:17 in the World English Bible (WEB) reads: "He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.". The King James Version (KJV) reads: "And2532 he846 is2076 before4253 all things3956, and2532 by1722 him846 all things3956 consist4921.". The WEB is a modern public-domain translation that updates the KJV's 1611 English while keeping a similar formal-equivalence style. Both render the same underlying Greek or Hebrew text.

How long is Colossians 1:17?

Colossians 1:17 is 13 words in the WEB translation (65 characters), broken into 2 clauses. It is short and well-suited to memorisation. Estimated reading time is about 4 seconds.

How can I memorise Colossians 1:17?

To memorise Colossians 1:17, split it into its 2 natural clauses and learn one at a time. Repeat the full verse out loud five times, then write it from memory. Saving the verse as a photo wallpaper using our verse image studio helps daily review — the visual association with a memorable background dramatically improves recall.

Why does Colossians 1:17 matter in Colossians?

How can I apply Colossians 1:17 today?

Many readers use Colossians 1:17 as a daily reminder verse — saving it as a phone wallpaper, sharing it on Pinterest, or memorising it for prayer. The verse studio on this page lets you download Colossians 1:17 on 52 different backgrounds for free. Pair the verse with the surrounding chapter context shown above to understand its full meaning before applying it.

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