OET interlinear COL 1:16

uW Translation Notes:

Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

ὅτι ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα

because by him /was/_created the_‹things› all

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form, with God as the subject. Alternate translation: “For in him God created all things”

Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / metaphor

ἐν αὐτῷ ἐκτίσθη τὰ πάντα

by him /was/_created the_‹things› all

Paul here seems to speak as if God created everything inside the Son. This is a metaphor that describes the involvement of the Son when God created all things, which you could clarify by making both the Son and the Father the subjects of created. If your language can clearly indicate different types of agency, you could identify God the Father as the primary agent and God the Son as the secondary agent. Alternate translation: “God the Father created all things through the work of God the Son”

Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / merism

ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς καὶ ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς

by in the heavens and on the earth

Paul refers to two opposite things, the heavens and the earth, as a way to include not only them but also everything else in what God and his Son created. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: “in every part of the universe”

Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / merism

τὰ ὁρατὰ καὶ τὰ ἀόρατα

the_‹things› the visible and the invisible

Paul refers to two opposite things, the visible and the invisible, as another way to refer to everything that God and his Son created. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: “whether people can see them or not”

Note 5 topic: translate-unknown

εἴτε θρόνοι, εἴτε κυριότητες, εἴτε ἀρχαὶ, εἴτε ἐξουσίαι

whether thrones or lordships or rulers or authorities

The words thrones, dominions, governments, and authorities here refer to different kinds of angels or other spiritual beings that are not specified as being good or evil. They are examples of what is invisible. It may be that the false teachers were teaching that these beings should be worshiped. But Paul is emphasizing here that God the Father created all of these spiritual beings through his Son, and so the Son is much greater than these. If it would be helpful in your language, you could: (1) identify that these are spiritual beings and translate as many of these names as you have different words for. Alternate translation: “Including all spiritual beings, which can be called thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities” (2) use names from your culture that identify different classes of angels or spiritual beings. Alternate translation: “Whether angels or archangels or spirit rulers” (3) summarize without using specific names. Alternate translation: “Including all types of powerful spiritual beings”

Note 6 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive

τὰ πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν ἔκτισται

the_‹things› all the the the_‹things› all by him and for him /has_been/_created

If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form, with God as the subject. Alternate translation: “through him and for him God created all things”

δι’ αὐτοῦ & ἔκτισται

by him & /has_been/_created

The phrase through him shows God the Son’s involvement in creating the world with the Father. Alternate translation: “God the Father created by working through the Son”

Note 7 topic: grammar-connect-logic-goal

καὶ εἰς αὐτὸν

and and and for him

Here, for him refers to the Son as the purpose or goal of all creation. If it would be helpful in your language, you could clarify that creation’s purpose is to honor and glorify the Son. Alternate translation: “and everything exists to glorify him”