Colossians 1:18-19 And he is the head of the body, the church [congregations]: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell
Hebrews 10:25 gives the only correct New Testament description: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”
There is no difference between Christian congregations and the body of Christ, as is clear from the following in Scripture: “the church, which is His body” (Eph. 1:22-23); “He is head of the body, the church” (1:18); “His body’s sake, which is the church” (1:24).
‘Who is the beginning’ [Greek: arche] beginning, origin, first. The dateless past (Gen. 1:1; Pro. 8:23). That is, the One who began creating all things in the very beginning (1:15-18; John 1:3; Eph. 3:9; Heb. 1:2; 11:3). It could not mean that He was the first to be created by God, for He is an uncreated and eternal being (Isa. 9:6-7; Mic. 5:2; John 1:1-2; Heb. 1:8; Rev. 1:8).
‘Firstborn from the dead’ [Greek: aparche] firstfruits; the beginning of a thing. Here it simply means that Christ is the first to be resurrected from the dead to enter into immortality of body (1Cor. 15:51-54).
‘That in all things he might have the pre-eminence’ Christ fills all with His fullness (Eph. 1:23; 3:16-21; John 1:16 Php. 2:9-11; Col. 1:18-19; 2:9; Heb. 1:3; Matt. 28:18; 1Pet. 3:22). The Greek word pleroma means fullness, abundance, completeness. All needs and lawful wants are promised by the His gospel (2Cor. 1:20; Matt. 7:7-11; 17:20; 21:22; John 14:12-17; 15:7, 16; 16:23-26).
Living the Word 