Colossians 1:17 bbe — He is before all things, and in him all things have being.

Bible in Basic English

"He is before all things, and in him all things have being."

— Colossians 1:17, Bible in Basic English

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Colossians 1:17 in Other Translations

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Colossians 1 — Context

14

In whom we have our salvation, the forgiveness of sins:

15

Who is the image of the unseen God coming into existence before all living things;

16

For by him all things were made, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, authorities, lords, rulers, and powers; all things were made by him and for him;

17

He is before all things, and in him all things have being.

18

And he is the head of the body, the church: the starting point of all things, the first to come again from the dead; so that in all things he might have the chief place.

19

For God in full measure was pleased to be in him;

20

Through him uniting all things with himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, uniting all things which are on earth or in heaven.

Colossians 1:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Colossians 1:17 say?
Colossians 1:17 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “He is before all things, and in him all things have being.”
Where is Colossians 1:17 in the Bible?
Colossians 1:17 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Colossians, chapter 1, verse 17.
Who wrote Colossians?
Colossians is traditionally attributed to Paul the Apostle (from prison). It was written c. AD 60–62.
What is the book of Colossians about?
To a church tempted by a Christ-plus-other-wisdom error, Paul writes one of Scripture's loftiest portraits of Jesus: "by him all things consist." In Christ is all the fullness of deity — and complete sufficiency for the believer. Practical instructions for new-creation living follow.
What are the major themes of Colossians?
Colossians explores themes including Supremacy of Christ, Fullness in Christ, New Life, Family, Prayer. These themes shape the meaning and context of Colossians 1:17.
What translation should I read Colossians 1:17 in?
Colossians 1:17 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Colossians 1:17?
Colossians 1:17 reads (BBE): “He is before all things, and in him all things have being.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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