“And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”
All things were created through him and for him — the preposition 'through' (dia) indicates agency: creation flows through Christ. 'For him' (eis autō) indicates purpose: creation's goal is Christ. Everything exists for Christ's glory. The telic (purposeful) dimension makes creation a covenant-reality, not accident. All existence is Christologically oriented.
Church Fathers on Colossians 1:17
Today it is necessary for me to pay the debt, which yesterday I deferred, in order that I might address it to your minds when in full force. Paul, discoursing as we showed of the dignity of the Son, says these words: “Who is the Image of the invisible God.” Whose image then will you have Him be? God's? Then he is exactly like the one to whom you assign Him. For if as a man's image, say so, and I will have done with you as a madman. But if as God and God's Son, God's image, he…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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